Tewkesbury Borough Council is exploring measures, including fines, to tackle the persistent problem of residents leaving dustbins out, which is tarnishing the appearance of the town’s historic centre. Earlier this year, more than 230 people signed a petition highlighting the issue, often referred to as ‘bin blight,’ and calling for a sustainable solution.
Alan Purkiss, chairman of the Tewkesbury Civic Society, presented the petition on June 24, emphasizing the negative impact of exposed bins. Purkiss noted that overflowing and visible waste bins detract from the town’s charm, discourage tourism, harm local businesses, decrease property values, and obstruct pathways for wheelchair users and prams.
The petition proposes that wheelie bins be allocated only to households within the town’s conservation area that have adequate space to store them out of public view. For those without such space, alternatives like blue bags or community-based bin storage facilities are recommended.
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In response, the council has formed a working group to investigate potential solutions, including the use of enforcement tools such as fixed penalty notices for improper bin storage. The group aims to develop practical recommendations that balance heritage preservation with residents’ needs.
Councillor Matt Dimond-Brown, who reported on this at the overview and scrutiny committee on July 22, described the petition as a “novel” step toward eradicating bin blight in Tewkesbury. Alongside Councillor Philip Workman and recently volunteered Councillor Hilarie Bowman, he called for more councillors to join the working group, emphasizing that the commitment would be short-term and aimed at resolving the issue by January.
While the initial focus is on Tewkesbury’s heritage zone, Dimond-Brown encouraged other wards facing similar challenges to engage with the project so solutions can be adapted borough-wide. There is also consideration of extending this initiative to nearby towns like Winchcombe as a second phase once effective strategies are developed.
The working group is expected to present its findings and recommendations to the council by the end of November, with the goal of preserving Tewkesbury’s unique historical environment while maintaining practical waste management for residents.