Tewkesbury Borough Council is exploring the possibility of fining residents who leave their dustbins out, as part of efforts to address the growing problem of bin clutter in the town’s historic centre. The issue, described as “bin blight,” has drawn significant public concern, with more than 230 residents signing a petition earlier this year calling for urgent action.
Alan Purkiss, chairman of the Tewkesbury Civic Society, formally presented the petition during a council meeting on June 24. He highlighted how the unsightly and unhygienic bins degrade the town’s appearance, deter tourism, negatively impact local businesses, lower property values, and obstruct access for wheelchair users and prams.
The petition proposed that wheelie bins be issued only to residents within the conservation area who have adequate storage on their property and are committed to using it properly. For those lacking space, alternatives such as blue refuse bags or shared community storage were suggested.
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In response, the council has formed a working group to explore solutions, including enforcement measures like issuing fixed penalty notices to residents and businesses that fail to store bins correctly. Councillor Matt Dimond-Brown emphasized the novelty of this petition, calling it a community-driven effort to rid Tewkesbury of its bin blight.
The working group, which includes Councillors Dimond-Brown, Philip Workman, and Hilarie Bowman, aims to develop practical solutions by January. They plan to focus primarily on the town centre’s heritage zone but acknowledge that findings could be relevant across the wider borough.
The council has also invited additional members to join the group within the next couple of weeks. Discussions are underway about extending similar measures to nearby locations such as Winchcombe in a potential second phase.
The overview and scrutiny committee will review the working group’s findings by the end of November and present recommendations to the full council for further action.