Somerset Waste Partnership ‘taking action’ over rubbish piles

Regular build-ups of bin bags and other household waste items have been spotted in Watsons Lane, Eastover, since before the pandemic began.

The rubbish has been placed on and near refuse bins provided for nearby flats that have limited waste storage facilities. 

Vicki Gardner, who lives in the area, said the area has become “a general collection point” for rubbish.

The Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP), which manages household waste, said the problem has emerged from fly-tippers dumping waste at the flats' refuse bins. 

It has apologised to the residents affected “by those who fly-tip” and is taking steps to solve the problem.

Vicki told the Bridgwater Mercury: “Nobody seems to be taking responsibility for it. 

“We're supposed to expect this as the norm. To my mind, it beggars belief that this is expected. It's a standard I never thought we'd sink to.

“We’ve had an awful lot of flats and houses built which are too small and they’ve got no place to put their refuse.”

A local resident has taken pictures of the problem since it emerged before the pandemic began. Image: Vicki Gardner (Image: Vicki Gardner)

She added: “When they build flats, it seems to me that there should be some form of waste storage and collection. In some areas, they need to rethink these things. It’s frankly outrageous.

“What about those businesses? The town is starting to look dirty and it’s becoming unpleasant to live in.”

When she contacted the Mercury, she said the waste consisted of around 25 binbags and other items including a microwave. 

“Sometimes it smells,” she added. 

“I think there are people who sometimes don’t sort their food from their other waste. SWP are paid to do a job and they should do it.

“We get rats, foxes, and gulls in the area. I’ve seen the bags picked through sometimes and the stuff’s all over the ground.

“It shouldn’t be left that long. It’s not fair to the town and the businesses in the area. What are we paying our money for?”

A SWP spokesperson said: “These are refuse bins solely for the use of the nearby flats that have little or no internal storage and no external space for a communal bin store.

“This provision for local people is being abused by fly-tippers illegally dumping rubbish that they should dispose of correctly.

“Somerset Waste Partnership is taking action to deal with this situation and residents should soon notice a difference.

“Our apologies for any problems caused to local residents by those who fly-tip.”