A Bracknell councillor has branded conditions at a block of flats “truly shocking” after residents were left with overflowing bins for up to four weeks during the recent heatwave, with some families forced to leave their homes because of flies and unbearable smells.
Cllr Roy Bailey has demanded urgent action at Hampden Crescent, where residents say a long-running dispute over contaminated and inaccessible bins has left rubbish piling up outside their homes.
Residents told the LDRS how they were living ‘like animals’ after one of their neighbours deposited an incorrect item in the recycling bin.
Cllr Roy Bailey said he would give the situation in Hampden Crescent his urgent attention after refuse collectors continued to refuse to sanitise a growing pile of rubbish outside people’s homes in the Parks area of Bracknell.
Resident Liz Quarterman, 39, said: “We get flies and the smell is unbearable. We’re living like animals.
“The private residents get their bins emptied every week. It’s only for the housing association tenants that they don’t bother.”
Businessman Petrica Platon, 55, said: “It’s disgusting in this heat. We have bugs indoors.”
Two teenage children reportedly had to move out of their mother’s home in a ground-floor flat during the heatwave as flies and bugs filled the air.
It was initially understood the problem began when one neighbour deposited a non compliant item in a blue bin in mid May which was non-recyclable. The refuse collectors refused to take the blue bin and the rubbish started to pile up.
However it has since been understood that multiple bins remained closed in a locked bin shed during the June heatwave with refuse collectors unable to access them.
Mum Sam Wills was away visiting family in Wales when the problem first occurred, but by the time she returned the stench was becoming unbearable.
The block has four general purpose waste bins and four recycling bins to share between 12 flats but these quickly become full when nobody is able to empty them.
Sam Wills, 39 said: “It’s very very smelly. I live on the ground floor and it’s making me feel sick.
“My 16-year-old son and my 13-year-old daughter aren’t here because she’s got asthma. They’ve had to go to my mum’s.”
The LDRS visited the street, a modern crescent in the ‘Parks’ estate close to Ranelagh school, and the smell was overwhelming with swarms of flies.
By Thursday July 8, after a day of careful diplomacy by cllr Bailey, some movement had been made.
Clarion Housing and the council Director of Place both told the LDRS that an appointment had been made to clear the bin shed but a resident told us that this was not complete.
Sam Wills said: “Half of the rubbish has now been emptied however the recycling waste is still there. Roy has been very good at trying to get this resolved.”
Andrew Hunter, executive director, place for Bracknell Forest Council said: “We are aware of ongoing concerns about waste and recycling collections at a block of flats in Hampden Crescent.
“Our waste collection crews have attended every scheduled collection at this location. On 3 June, crews were unable to access the bin store because the door entry code was not working.
“On 17 June and 1 July, the bins could not be emptied because they were overloaded, contaminated with items such as glass, plastic bags and tissues, and access was blocked by waste left on the floor.
“The council notified Clarion Housing Group after each visit and explained why the collection could not be completed. Keeping bin stores clear, tidy and ready for collection is the responsibility of the managing agent or housing association.
“Although we were advised that excess waste would be removed before the next collection, the issues had not been resolved when crews returned.
“Clarion Housing has confirmed a team will be collecting the remainder of the waste tomorrow (Wednesday) and have arranged for their cleaning contractor to attend on Friday to carry out a deep clean.
“Our crews will safely collect waste and recycling when bins are accessible, contain the correct materials and are not overloaded.
“We will continue to work with the managing agent to resolve the issue. If no action is taken to clear the waste and improve access, the matter will be referred to the Public Protection Partnership.”
A spokesperson for Clarion Housing said: “We are sorry that residents have been experiencing an issue with the bin store at Hampden Crescent and we have been working hard to resolve this.
“Waste disposal is the responsibility of the local authority, however Bracknell Forest Council informed us the bins would not be collected at the end of June due to contamination. Since then our waste collection contractor has attended twice to clear rubbish.
“Unfortunately, due to availability and the need for specialist PPE a full clearance has not yet been possible. An appointment is in place for the bin store to be completely cleared today, with a deep clean of the area booked for tomorrow.
“We are committed to resolving this issue as soon as possible and our neighbourhood response team is in contact with residents to discuss any ongoing concerns.”
