A dispute raging between residents and the council over the maintenance of a bin room at flats has reached the point where “distressed” tenants have considered legal action as a “last resort” as rubbish begins to spill into their car park.
Tenants of Noble House, on Chequers Avenue, in High Wycombe, said their last recourse would be to take a legal action against Bucks Council and Thames Valley Housing to resolve an overflowing bin store at the property, which the council previously suggested is being improperly used.
Residents previously complained about the “service they get”, claiming the mess “happens throughout the year”.
PICTURED: Rubbish falling out the bin room door.
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But the council argued “incorrect items” had been put in recycling bins and that waste had also been dumped there by non-residents.
Tenants have since said the council has not taken steps to resolve the matter which is now “getting worse”, adding the allegation of improper use by residents “isn’t entirely accurate”.
They have asked for more bins, a bigger store, and measures to keep out non-residents.
“The council has not taken action to get this issue resolved,” said one resident.
“The issue we’ve had is getting worse. The bin store is so full and flooding through the door to the car park.
“Residents are really distressed and don’t know what to do anymore.”
PICTURED: Inside the bin store.
PICTURED: The overflowing bins.
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They added: “The allegation that it is the fault of users isn’t entirely accurate.
“Five bins for 35 flats is absolutely not enough. There must be a weekly collection at least, but the responsibility lies with Thames Valley Housing for having a small bin store and only five bins for 35 families.
“The bin room needs to be extended and more bins should be provided.
“We pay Thames Valley Housing to manage the block, so it’s not really in our hands to control who accesses the bin store.
“They should provide [measures] to restrict non-residents from accessing it.
“The last resort would be to take a legal action against both the block management company and the council.
“We hope…the housing association…and the council will take it seriously.”
PICTURED: More bin bags falling out the door.
PICTURED: Bin bags littering the floor.
A Bucks Council spokesman said: “There are three 1,100-litre general rubbish bins and two 1,100-litre recycling bins that are collected weekly for 35 flats.
“This means each flat has approximately 190-litre general rubbish capacity each fortnight, which is more than the standard household capacity.
“We have gone above and beyond to work with the residents and the management agent at the site to try to manage this situation.
“We arranged for the bin store to be emptied and cleansed in May so that the residents and the management company could start afresh with clean and empty bins, and wrote letters to all residents to advise them how to use the bins correctly.
“Unfortunately, our contractor has advised that the bins are overflowing again and that the recycling bin has the wrong items in.
“We have contacted the management agent to discuss securing the bin stores and collection arrangements and want to support them to address these issues for the good of the residents.”
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