Some North Herts bins set to be removed under new waste contract

A letter explaining the decision to various parish councils in the area, and seen by the Comet, was sent out on Friday last week. 

The letter explains that the bins have been reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the number of remaining bins in each area will largely depend on footfall, location, and the number of bins already situated in the area. 

It also stated that in some instances the council will replace multiple small bins with a larger bin that has the same capacity as all of the small ones from around the area. 

Some Liberal Democrat councillors have slammed the plans, claiming they were made in "secret" and with "minimal consultation". 

Cllr Sam Collins, from Hitchin Highbury, said: “I am urgently trying to seek clarification on this as there has been no consultation with local residents or councillors. 

Cllr Sam Collins, Hitchin Highbury (Image: Sam Collins) “Removing a quarter of the litter bins in Hitchin is entirely the wrong thing to do, it is clear we need bigger bins and to have them emptied more frequently, something I have been calling for, for quite a long time now. 

“Reducing the number of bins will turn our lovely town into a litter strewn mess, what are Labour thinking!"

Cllr Dominic Griffiths of the Liberal Democrats, who represents the villages of Gravely, St Ippolyts and Wymondley, said: “Our local residents have a right to know how decisions which affect them are being taken.

Cllr Dominic Griffiths, Graveley, St Ippolyts & Wymondley ward (Image: North Herts Council) “Why is the Labour administration keeping the public in the dark about this?”

However, Cllr Amy Allen, executive member for recycling and waste, has clapped back and said she is "disappointed" with the allegations.

"To be honest I’m really disappointed in what I understand the Liberal Democrats to be saying," she said.

Cllr Amy Allen (Image: Jane Evans Photography) "The waste contract involved extensive consultation with cross-party councillors, including Cllr Tom Tyson and Cllr Steve Jarvis who were both part of the joint administration at the time, as deputy executive member for waste and executive member for environment respectively, meaning they were fully involved and aware of the various new contract plans.

"Specific papers about litter bins went to cabinet in December last year and all parties were asked to join a litter bin workshop recently, so they could understand what we are proposing, which Cllr Tyson attended as the Lib Dem rep.

"The council worked extremely hard, engaging councillors from all parties, to get an environmentally sustainable service at a reasonable cost for residents."

The council aims to ensure litter bins are positioned in the right locations, where there is high footfall or places of congestion such as at bus stops. This project does not include the removal of park and greenspace bins or dog waste bins.  

Parish councils have until November 4 to respond to this decision.

Cllr Steve Jarvis (Image: North Herts Lib Dems)

Cllr Steve Jarvis, a Liberal Democrat representative for Weston and Sandon, added: “They don’t appear to be answering the key question that parish councils and local residents will have: which bins are they going to remove?

“Also, why does a parish not get notified unless 30 per cent are being removed? 

“If the plan is to annoy as many people as possible, this is a good way to go about it.”

Cllr Allen added: "All councils are facing hard times and unfortunately, a reduction in litter bins was something we agreed to help keep the overall cost of the contract manageable.

"We are contacting those parishes which are set to have a reduction of more than 30 per cent, this does not include litter bins in parks and green spaces.

"We hope it won’t make too much of a difference, and in most cases it means we will be getting rid of bins that aren’t used much, in some areas we will replace two small bins with one larger bin, and of course we expect everyone to take their rubbish home if there isn’t a bin in the vicinity anyway.

"We are not expecting the changes to negatively impact on the district, and will be monitoring the situation so people can get in touch if there is a problem."