Dog poo bins not emptied for months, says resident

49 minutes ago

Tony FisherBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

News image — Beata Sowinska said the dog waste bin had not been cleared since it was installed at the start of the year

Beata Sowinska Two pictures side by side. On the left a red dog waste bin is overflowing with poo sacks with a children's playground in the background. On the right there is a black general waste bin overflowing with rubbish. There are houses and play equipment in the background. — Beata Sowinska said the dog waste bin had not been cleared since it was installed at the start of the year

A woman has said people are growing "sick and tired" of dog waste bins by a children's playground not being emptied.

Beata Sowinska, 45, who lives on the Beauchamp Mill estate in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, said the problem had been going on for months.

When she first contacted the management company, Trinity Estates, about the "health and safety hazard", she was told she needed to contact the developer.

In a statement, Trinity Estates said it appreciated that "delays or missed collections can be frustrating for residents" and confirmed the bins had been cleared.

It said it regretted "any inconvenience this may have caused" and added that the bins were "scheduled to be cleared every two weeks moving forward".

Trinity Estates Two pictures side by side. On the left there is an empty red dog waste bin with its lid open. On the right there is a general waste bin with its outside cover removed showing it has been emptied. — Liz Anderson, a councillor on Stotfold Town Council, said she sympathised with the residents.

Sowinska said: "People are sick and tired of the ping pong games and authorities brushing off their responsibilities."

She said the dog waste bins were part of the neighbouring Aspen Garden estate which is also managed by Trinity Estates.

Residents are charged £22 per month by the company to deliver services such as emptying the communal bins, she added.

Liz Anderson, a councillor on Stotfold Town Council, said she sympathised with the residents.

Stotfold Town Council said that "while the bin falls under the management of Trinity Estates, we asked our town rangers to visit the site and empty it".

"We were pleased to help on this occasion and would encourage residents to report any concerns about communal waste services directly to Trinity Estates in the first instance," the authority added.

Trinity Estates, which has its headquarters in Hemel Hempstead, said it worked "with appointed waste collection suppliers to support the effective delivery of communal waste services".

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