Bins finally cleared from Eastville pavements

COMMERCIAL wheelie bins have finally been cleared from a stretch of Fishponds Road, after years of campaigning by residents and pressure from councillors.

The bins had been parked on a stretch of pavement between the Freeland Buildings and East Park junctions in Eastville, and used by shops and takeaways on the opposite side of the road.

They often leaked and were left open and overflowing, attracting rats and creating a smelly and hazardous mess on the pavement near a busy bus stop.

Things came to a head in 2020 when elderly resident Lolita Tucker fell over as she tried to avoid a slick of waste, ending up badly bruised and with her clothes covered in stinking gunge.

The city council announced new commercial waste collection rules for the city the following year, starting with a pilot scheme in the 'Old City' area around Corn Street.

Last December it was expanded to cover Old Market, Stapleton Road and the stretch of Fishponds Road between Stapleton Road and Muller Road, as well as side streets.

A council spokesperson said: "Engagement with businesses in this area started at the end of January this year, to make sure they were aware of their new responsibilities. Enforcement action to remove bins still being stored on the streets started on March 21.

"Under the new standards businesses are not allowed to store trade bins on the highway or on public land, or to leave sacks for collection overnight."

Mayor Marvin Rees said 113 bins had been removed from Fishponds Road, Stapleton

Road, and Old Market.

Gloria Davey, of the East Park Residents Group, said residents had been lobbying the council to take action for more than five years.

She said: "The removal of the bins will help to discourage vermin from the area and make it a much more pleasant environment for everyone, though it saddens me that Mrs Tucker is now too disabled to walk down here and benefit from these changes herself."

Eastville ward Labour councillor Marley Bennett said: "By working with the Mayor, I was delighted to help secure a commitment for Eastville to be the first area outside the city centre to benefit from the Council’s scheme to remove commercial waste bins from our streets."

The ward's Green councillor Lorraine Francis said her party had also worked with the council and business owners in Eastville and other areas to make the change work

She said: "I spent weeks talking to shop owners whose bins butted against the old Workhouse wall, which was contributing to rats and other vermin causing distress to residents.

"I think the council’s waste team and enforcement team have done a fantastic job and I’m really glad this has been sorted out."