Bin complaints ‘a waste of time’

FED-UP . . . (from left) Stewart Hacking, Simon Hacking, Tommy Boyce, Josie Lewis, Cleveland Shirley and Sheila Shirley

FED-up householders have branded council refuse workers inconsiderate for continually blocking the driveway of a disabled man with emptied wheelie bins.

Residents in Scowcroft Lane and Vicarage Way in Shaw said bins had been left strewn in the road for the past 12 months following their weekly Friday collection.

Despite numerous complaints to Oldham Council, fuming neighbours are still forced to track down and gather up their empty bins.

Sheila Shirley (55), of Scowcroft Lane, said taxis taking her wheelchair-bound husband to medical appointments can’t drive up to their house.

She said emergency vehicles would not be able to reach their home if needed.

She added: “My husband Cleveland has to go to the health centre for regular appointments.

“We have to move the bins every Friday before we can start to function.

“The way they are left would stop emergency vehicles driving up to the house.

“It is a constant thing, we are on the phone about it all the time.

“I want the bin men to take this into consideration.”

Neighbour Tommy Boyce (30), from Vicarage Way, said he is so fed-up with the situation that he encouraged all his neighbours to make formal complaints.

He said: “I’ve been on the phone to the council every few weeks for the past 12 months but I’m getting absolutely nowhere.

“We all take our bins out and line them up ready to be collected but instead of lining them back up, they are left all over the place.

“We’ve been told team leaders will have a word with the bin men and remind them to put them back.

“But when they get to our area, the bins are just left in the road.

“When I phoned a few weeks ago, a team manager came to my address but I wasn’t in and he left without speaking to any of the neighbours.”

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for the environment and infrastructure, said: “The council takes all complaints seriously.

“I can confirm that an officer was despatched to investigate this issue within the hour.

“We will continue to monitor the service provided by the waste service at this address and will ensure that Mr Boyce is kept updated on what is happening.”

If anyone has any concerns or queries about their waste disposal service, they should call 0161-770 6644.