Number's up on pavement bins

COMMUNAL bins are being trialled on some streets in Clifton after Liberal Democrat councillors raised the problem of individual bins cluttering the pavements.
Affected roads include Southleigh Road and Oakfield Place, with Arlington Villas and Bellevue earmarked to follow.
There are already communal centres such as this at Richmond Terrace and Alma Vale Road and they appear to be working well, say deputy council leader Simon Cook and his fellow Clifton East ward councillor and ruling cabinet member Mike Popham.
“The suggestion has arisen from residents’ concerns about bins being left out on the pavements and low recycling rates because of difficulties in using the current system,” said Mike Popham.
“We are anxious to try other ways of collection. This is a pilot and we will review it in three months. If residents like this arrangement, the communal centres will be landscaped properly so that they look as appropriate as possible within the Conservation Area.”
Simon Cook said: “While residents will obviously want to reserve judgement until they have had time to see how the communal system works, many have said to us how good Southleigh Road now looks following the removal of individual bins.
“We invite residents to let us know any ideas they may have that might make the waste and recycling system work better on their street.”
Gary Hopkins, executive member for environment and community safety, said: “When the recycling service was introduced by the Lib Dem administration in late 2006, the council faced huge environmental penalties because of years of inaction.
“It had always been envisaged that refinements would be needed to take account of local geography, but unfortunately the change in administration led to inaction and local councillors being unable to respond to residents’ concerns.
“An expansion of the bespoke services is planned in response to local needs.”