Southampton man calls on council to remove rubbish bins from street

Malcolm Ward, 73, of Shirley Avenue, first reported problems with lots of council and contractor waste bins out on Mayflower Road to Southampton City Council back in July.

Since then, he’s seen as many as 27 bins out in a day, overflowing and restricting pedestrian access to the pavement.

Speaking to the Echo, the 73-year-old said: “I’ve lived in Shirley all my life and it’s really gone downhill.

“I walk past Mayflower Road most days and the number of rubbish bins lining the pavement is staggering.

“Many of them are overflowing when they should be padlocked and with cars parking up against the curb it makes it quite narrow.

“Anybody that was coming down here in a wheelchair or mobility scooter would have trouble getting by and may fall onto the road.”

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When Malcolm raised the issue with the council, he was assured the matter would be looked into but this has not yet happened.

“I asked the council if I could get away with permanently keeping my bin outside my house on the pavement and I was simply told ‘no,’” he said.

“I don’t know why the same rules don’t apply for these businesses and neighbouring homes.

“It looks untidy and when the bins overflow you don’t know what you might find – foxes have been known to investigate the rubbish around here and move it all about.

“It just seems odd that nothing has been done about it, the council are as useful as a chocolate teapot.”

The council told the Echo it will now review the area.

Cllr Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "The team will review the situation and engage with residents in the area.

"Our policy requires all residents to bring back bins to their properties after collection, however where there is no space for bins to be stored on the property, alternative arrangements will need to be discussed with residents."