Bins are safety hazard (From Witney Gazette)

Bins are safety hazard

10:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Letters

Sir – In your edition of February 13, Valma Gilkes responded to the recent reports and letters you have published about problems with recycling in Witney.

I think she missed the main point of my complaints to West Oxfordshire District Council and my subsequent refusal to use recycling boxes.

While the way the boxes are often left discarded over the pavement and drive is obviously unsightly, the main issue is one of health and safety.

The boxes were left covering the pavement, forcing pedestrians to walk into the road to get past the obstruction.

This is particularly dangerous for people with wheelchairs and mothers with prams and pushchairs.

The council must comply with health and safety legislation, as we all must, and after three complaints to the council (the frequency of the problem was even greater) and an agreement from them that the practice was unacceptable, then the only alternative was to raise the problem with the Witney Gazette in the hope that the council will take some firm action.

I accept that waste clearance is not a pleasant job but we should not stand by and allow these problems to continue as Ms Gilkes implies.

Chris Roger, Ralegh Crescent, Witney