You may recall I posed a piece about wheelie bins being introduced on to Folly Island.
Since then I and other residents have received two letters; one from the Folly Island Association and one from the Waste Services Team.
Together they aim to clarify the situation. Waste Services are asking for feedback. This is my reply, copying in the FIA.
Attention Waste Team – September 16
I received your letter of 11 September regarding changes to Folly Island Waste and Recycling Collections.
I feel that this is a year too late as you appear to have everything in place before any proper consultation with Folly Island residents has taken place. This is not very democratic. When I was Chairman of the Folly Island Association in 2001 I was told in no uncertain terms by East Herts Council that there would never, ever be wheelie bins on Folly Island.
As in all well designed plans there is an anomaly. Folly Island is that anomaly. It is unique. As you may be aware the Island was created in1850-60’s when a dock was created at Dicker Mill turning the The Folly into an island. (see Rosemary Bennett’s excellent ‘Folly Island). House building began on The Folly in 1864, Riverside in early 1880; Thornton Street in the late 1880’s and Old Hall Street in 1893. There is still only one road for vehicular access and pavements are a relatively new addition. And no double yellow lines!
Folly Island is a Local Conservation Area; one that it is desirable to preserve and enhance. All levels of Council are keen to promote Folly Island until they are asked to do something. Not much has happened since the late nineteenth century. Everyone likes the way it is, especially residents who have ben living here for 30,40, and 50 years and more. Some still live in the property they were born in.
What has emerged is a close community that takes pride in their front gardens which have been established for many years. They do not want to change the layout or lay paving, especially to make room for wheelie bins. A walk around the island will evidence that the majority of residents are displaying a poster in their front window objecting to the introduction of wheelie bins. This does not affect Coopers Court or Water’s Edge as they are new builds and possibly Nos 3, 3a and 3b The Folly.
I have sat on too many meetings of the now defunct Hertford Transport Forum to discuss parking and there is no quick, easy or satisfactory solution to the number of residents who wish to park their car on the island where houses radically outnumber parking spaces. It has been reluctantly agreed that cars have to be parked on pavements. People already walk down the middle of roads because there is restrictive space between properties and cars on the pavements not to mention trees and other street furniture. Residents accept this but if the wheelie bins are to be left on the pavement for collection it will further restrict safe walking without taking into account those who need to use wheelchairs, mobility scooters, disabled devices, along with mothers with pushchairs and dog walkers. Sometimes you have to accept that the perfect plan will not work.
I wish to make some extra comments.
Currently we are requested to place plastic bags on our curtilage at 7.00am but collection does not usually take place until gone 9.00am. When the wheelie bins are emptied will they be replaced inside or outside our property boundary? As the majority of residents are at work will the bins be stored neatly and correctly on the pavement. Even if replaced outside in regular order then see paragraph above re pavement hazards; something Highways are often keen on regulating.
When recycling was first introduced we were given a small food caddy for indoor use and the contents to be placed inside a larger one for collection. This system caused a proliferation of maggots, flies and other insects especially during hot weather as the caddy liners were made of paper and often split. This is not a problem exclusive to Hertford, It is a common problem nationwide. Will we be provided with similar paper caddy liners or will all our food waste be simply thrown into the collection vehicle ‘as is’ ? Or do we provide our own plastic bags. Will there be just a throwback to much earlier times when dustbins full of everything and anything were carried on the shoulders of bin men and hurled into the dustcart.
Finally will we be given a choice of what ratio of wheelie bins/ storage bins we require/can keep and that no one will find themselves on the wrong side of the law if they have to use plastic sacks alongside a full wheelie bin as has happened in many parts of the country. What are we to do with the blue and green boxes once this new system is introduced.
Before the Health and Safety issues above can be guaranteed by yourselves then I think that we would be better served by leaving things as they are ie ‘sack and box’ collections.
Updates will follow.
A not unexpected reply from Waste Services dated 16 September: ‘We have looked at your comments, these will be logged and considered.
