Council urged to crackdown on waste bins left out in Trowbridge

The call comes from Cllr Glyn Bridges, the chair of Trowbridge Civic Society, which was set up in 1978 to protect the town’s historic buildings and improve the appearance of the area.

Cllr Bridges has complained that bins are being left out in Ashton Street, Red Hat Lane, Silverthorn Passage, and in front of the trompe l’oeil in Roundstone Street.

Speaking at a Trowbridge Town Council town development committee meeting on Tuesday, August 13, he said: “The illegal siting of bins along Silverthorn Passage was first reported to Wiltshire Council as far back as 2016.

“During the intervening nine years, many requests have been made to Wiltshire Council requesting that they enforce the removal of bins from this narrow passageway, all to no avail.

“Can you please explain why, that after so many years, no action has been taken?”

The eyesore waste bins in Red Hat Lane, Trowbridge. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Cllr Bridges added: “The large number of bins in Red Hat Lane is also unacceptable, especially as this is in the centre of the town and is both fully visible to the passing public. The bins also emit an appalling smell.

“No doubt as the flats in the former Knees department store are sold the situation will deteriorate even more and the number of complaints rise.

“Could you please let us know what steps are being taken to have these eyesores removed to a more discrete place in the town centre?"

He added: "Nothing appears to have been done to remedy the situation.

“It is obvious that if any action has been taken by Wiltshire Council, it has been totally ignored by the residents of these offending properties.”

Cllr Dominic Muns, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for waste said: “Where households are leaving their bins on the highway, and the property and householder can be identified, we have written to the householder to advise they must present bins only for collections, and they must be taken in as soon as is practical following a collection.

“If households and businesses do not comply with this a penalty notice can be issued.

“The commercial containers being left out do not belong to the council and as such we cannot remove them. However, the matter has been raised with the enforcement team who are looking into this.”