2023- THE YEAR OF THE VANISHING BIN?

Tewkesbury is rich in history with listed buildings galore, quaint alleys and fascinating riverside walks, writes Alan Purkiss of Tewkesbury Civic Society. It has excellent retailers, restaurants, cafes and pubs. It is, mostly, a lovely place to live and visit Nevertheless, some visitors have been critical of the number of bins on some streets, visually spoiling otherwise attractive areas.

Some residents too have said how much more pleasant it would be if there were not a bin in sight except for collection days.

Not every house, flat or business has space for bins, this is often the fault of past poor redevelopment without regard to bin storage plus the nature of our tight historic layout of properties.

Properties that have these storage problems can, with approval, use blue recycling bags, provided free by TBC and available at the Borough offices and at the Town Hall, plus black bags for non-recycling collections. Not a lot of people know that!

However, residents in Mill Street and Mill Bank do know it, no one uses bins at all, everyone uses the blue and black bag approach because there is very limited bin storage space on the properties. The result is an area with not a bin in sight, a delight to live in and one to be proud of.

In some areas local residents have met with neighbours to discuss how to improve their patch. An example is St Mary’s Lane, where bins were very much in evidence. One resident took photos, chats took place on how to get them off the street in a friendly fashion and on taking pride in where everyone lived.

Result, no bins, except on collection days, and how much nicer it looks. Everyone is happy and everyone knows everyone!!

The same could perhaps be done in other areas?

A partnership of the Civic Society, the Borough and Town Councils, will be promoting these ideas over the next few months and would welcome constructive, helpful views via email to info@ tewkesburycivicsociety.o rg from any residents who might see opportunities here or problems that need to be overcome etc. Let’s make 2023 the year of the vanishing bin!

- Alan Purkiss