Almost 2,000 people have challenged plans to get rid of 150 litter bins, in a petition submitted to Wokingham Borough Council.
Council leaders want to scrap the bins as part of cost-saving measures that also include mowing grass verges fewer times a year. But the plans have been met with a backlash, with more than 1,800 people signing the petition against it.
Conservative opposition group leader Pauline Jorgensen handed the petition over at a council meeting on Thursday, September 21.
She said: “Local residents are asking you to listen. They know that if you remove bins they’ll be treated to the view of dogs’ mess bags hanging from trees, and litter on the streets, and that the council will then have more work to clean the place up.
“Residents want to have bins in play areas so they can teach their children not to drop litter.”
Conservative councillors also challenged the Liberal Democrat council leaders, with questions about the plans.
Cllr Abdul Loyes said residents had come to him with complaints of full litter bins.
He said: “Has the Council considered the costly consequence of reducing littler bins such as increases in vermin, littering, dog fouling and fly tipping?”
And Cllr Michael Firmager said Wokingham Borough’s population had grown by 15% between 2011 and 2021 – and asked whether this meant it needed more bins rather than fewer.
Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Shenton, is the executive member whose portfolio includes bins, answered both questions. He said that the council had looked at which bins were full, half full or empty on a weekly basis when earmarking those it has suggested should close.
He also said the council was looking at the responses to a recent consultation on the proposed changes. He added: “There’s no correlation or standard link between population and the number of litter bins required.”
Cllr Shenton also said that the council would support litter-picking initiatives while prosecuting litterers.
“Ongoing support will be provided to litter-picking groups and organisations, and enforcement action will be taken against those individuals who litter or fly tip,” he said.
“The majority of members of the public are responsible and will not break the law, be it on littering dog fouling or fly tipping. However, individuals that are caught undertaking these damaging activities are warned that we will prosecute, and we’ll publicise any successful actions.”
The results of a consultation on the planned changes are still to be discussed by councillors on Wokingham Borough’s overview and scrutiny committee, with a final decision to be taken by its ruling executive committee.
