Street cleansing standards take another hit
The York Council is to remove more litter bins from the City’s streets. It is claiming that the installation of “smart” compaction bins in the City centre and Acomb Front Street has been a “success” and is now aiming to replace old style bins on a one for two basis.
Compactor bin jammed with rubbish
One of the Foxwood Lane bins which will be axed
The smart bins compact rubbish using solar power and are supposed to alert the Council electronically when they are full.
They have had a mixed reaction from residents and traders.
The locations where only one bin will be provided in future include:
- Copmanthorpe – near chipshop
- Foxwood Lane – corner near shops
- Tadcaster Road – opposite chipshop
Another of the bins that will be removed
- St Aubyn’s Place
- Badger Hill – near shops
- Tang Hall Ln – shops
- Marygate – entrance to Museum Gardens
- Union Terrace Coach/car park
Litter accumulating behind a junction box. An increasingly familiar sight in sub-urban York
- Haxby – the village – near shops
- City Centre – Newgate Market
- City Centre – Spurriergate – near junc with High Ousegate
- City Centre – Kings Sq
- Broadway – Shops
- Blossom Street O/S Odean
Meanwhile complaints about litter drift are increasing and a petition asking for more litter bins to be provide is being drawn up
I take something of an interest in litter in York. I also collect it.
Some points:-
Foreign visitors have said to me they are surprised to see the amount of litter
in the tourist city of York.
York City Council (YCC) have a strange and illogical policy on litter. They reduced a significant numbers of bins three years ago. Some of which it made sense to remove, others not.
YCC do not seem to have a coherent policy on the siting of bins.
There is only one bin on the north side from Bootham Bar to the Clifton Bingo Hall. This the best part of a mile and is well frequented by locals and tourists.
Makes no sense to me. A lot of litter gets thrown into gardens.
Most litter is thrown by York local people. What can we do?
Take for instance Exhibition Square, Bins have been reduced to just one. The Square is a popular location for tourists, tour buses, the Art Gallery and it is also a though-route for locals. And has a number of bus stops and there is a busy pedestrian crossing. The latest removal is the one that was next to Princess Elizabeth Archway. It was taken away because someone deemed it unsightly, being in front of the wall plaque. The one remaining bin is in the far left corner when facing the Art Gallery – this is way off the beaten track and is little used. If there is a valid point in moving the bin, then why has it not been re-sited close the Archway where it is one of the most effective bins in York?
YCC prefer to remove bins rather than re-site them.
There does not seem to be a policy of cigarette butts. They just lie about all over the place and this is compounded by the new solar bins having butt collectors which just deposit the butts on the ground.
The YCC employed litter pickers are a mixed bunch – some being excellent and others being very poor. Are they trained? Are they monitored?
KB