BIN MEN BANNED FROM AYCLIFFE ALLEYS

By Martin Walker

Bin men have been banned from collecting wheelie bins from back alleys in Newton Aycliffe due to fears they may suffer a back injury.

It means hundreds of residents from eight streets near Aycliffe town centre must pull their own bins through alleyways, or risk not having them collected at all.

Almost 300 households in Marshall Road, Silkin Way, Wright Close, Christopher Walk, Priestman Road, Stead Close, Lightfoot Road and Burdon Close have been told about the decision blasted as ‘defying common sense’.

Their only alternative is to attempt to trundle the large bins through the inside of their homes to the front.

Residents are infuriated by the health and safety clampdown, which followed a council risk assessment.

Letters were sent to 287 households to explain that crews could be vulnerable to ‘musculoskeletal injuries’ when pulling wheelie bins.

The residents live in terraced houses with rear gardens that back on to alleyways about as wide as two wheelie bins and up to 87 yards long.

They argue that in the days of steel bins, crews walked up the alleys to take the dustbins back to the dustcart in the street – and that the job has now been made even easier by wheelie bins.

However, according to the council, crews are being forced to adopt ‘awkward postures’ in the confined space, risking back, joint and limb problems.

Tracy Tremewan, 34, who lives in one of eight streets that have been affected, said: “I think it’s absolutely shocking.

“That’s what they get paid to do – move the bins. They say they can’t move them but we can. But what happens if we hurt our backs?”

Neighbour Jean White, 65, who has lived in her house for nearly 40 years, said: “Before the wheelie bins came in they used to pick the metal ones up on their shoulders.

“You’d have thought if they were going to hurt their backs they would have done so then.

“The next thing you know we will have to empty the bins into the lorries ourselves.”

It has also been claimed that by getting residents to do the work of pushing bins, the council will need to employ fewer binmen.

David Stevens, 68, said: “The bins are on wheels and are not heavy for strong binmen. We think that the council is nit-picking to save money.”

Jonathan Isaby, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said residents had “every right to feel short-changed”.

“Collecting the bins is a basic service which people expect in return for their council tax,” he added.

“If binmen have been collecting rubbish from the same place for decades, how can the sudden change be seriously justified?

“This is another example of health and safety rules being interpreted in an extreme way that defies common sense.”

Jimmy Bennett, manager of Streetscene, which provides the bin collection service, said: “By asking residents to bring their bins to the end of the lane we can provide a more effective service and keep the lane clear.”

The first collection under the new rules went ‘smoothly’, he said, adding that special arrangements would be made for residents who are unable to move their own bins.