Glass banks on hold

Residents who only discovered glass recycling banks were to be put near their homes when workmen started digging foundations have forced a temporary halt with threats of a sit-in.

Banks are being installed at nine sites across Bingham by Rushcliffe Borough Council for a six-month trial at a cost of around £40,000.

But preparation work at three sites — Hill Drive, Moor Lane and Shelford Drive — has stopped after complaints from residents.

Mrs Joyce Keal of Moor Lane, Bingham, is one of six residents opposing a recycling bin on a grassed area by their homes. They threatened the borough with a sit-in protest on the site.

Mrs Keal said: “They came with a digger and started digging the turf up on Wednesday. My neighbour went out and asked what they were doing. We had never heard anything from them until then.

“This is a lovely complex and they were going to put one there. We said we don’t want this noise. We don’t want the traffic down here. Nobody will walk with a carrier bag full of bottles.”

On Friday, following their threat, the hole was filled in.

Mrs Diane Buxton (59) lives on Porchester Road where work to install a bin continues, also on a green space.

Mrs Buxton said: “We didn’t know about it until they built a big hole and left all the rubble there and the barriers.

“I was very shocked. We bought the house because it is a nice view and then they go and stick a glorified dustbin on it. It will devalue my house.”

Work has stopped on all three contested sites and they are being reviewed by the borough.

At a Bingham Town Council policy and resources committee meeting on Tuesday, the acting town clerk, Mr Peter Butcher, said he had received a petition signed by 39 residents opposed to having a bank installed on Hill Drive.

The committee chairman, Mr Francis Purdue-Horan, said he believed a 60-name petition, signed by residents of Shelford Drive, had been submitted to the borough council.

But he said although he had received complaints, he had also heard from people who welcomed the scheme.

The borough council’s head of environment and waste management, Mr David Banks, said: “Given the number of sites across Bingham, the council carried out a full consultation exercise earlier this year with Bingham Town Council who fully supported the trial.

“This process was heavily featured in local newspapers and council staff attended public meetings to help explain the purpose of the trial.”

He said frequently asked questions and answer sheets had also been delivered to homes in the vicinity and staff were available to discuss the situation.