Support for people fined by bin police

2:21pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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By Lucy Tatchell »

READERS of your Worcester News have backed the people who were fined £100 for failing to use their wheelie bins properly.

As reported in your Worcester News on Saturday, tenants at a block of flats in Ronkswood had been putting their rubbish out in bin bags when the communal wheelie bins became full.

Their actions resulted in a knock on the door from a representative of Worcester Community Housing and a Police Community Service Officer (PCSO), who dished out the £100 fixed penalty notices.

Several readers commented on the story on your Worcester News's website www.worcesternews.co.uk Most reacted with shock, branding it the action of the "plastic police", others advised the residents to go to court and fight the fine.

Several readers criticised the use of the PCSO to issue the notices in Lichfield Avenue, Worcester.

"It is highly questionable whether PCSOs should be used for this purpose," said Alan2, of Worcester.

Another reader who is a PCSO, but not in Worcester, said: "PCSOs are not tax collectors, nor should they be used by local authorities as a private police force.

"What a total waste of time and money."

Varien, of Worcester, questioned why the extra bags could not be collected with the wheelie bin. "What is wrong with bin men throwing the plastic bags into the back of the trucks?" he said.

Tenants in the six flats share two black wheelie bins and two green ones, which are collected on alternate weeks.

One reader highlight the two large bins provided for residents are the equivalent of a standard bin each.

John Wylds, of Worcester, wrote: "How can these bins be overflowing unless it is because the tenants are not participating fully in the recycling scheme."

Another blamed the problem on fortnightly collections. "Bring back the old style collection of every week," wrote Sir Smeg, of Worcester.

As well as recommending fighting the fine in court, one reader recommended tenants arrange a meeting with Worcester Community Housing.

"It seems to me if the fine is paid without sorting out the bins for each flat, it will only be a matter of a week or so before another fine lands on their doorstep," wrote Anne Palmer, of Staffordshire.

As reported in your Worcester News, Jean Dalziel, customer services director at WCH, said: "Rubbish being dumped at this location has been a big problem for a while now.

"We had lots of complaints from people about the mess." She promised to look into whether the bins were adequate.

• Wheelie bins - what's all the fuss about anyway? Click here.