Lancaster City Council has said it will no longer threaten to fine residents whose wheelie bins are left in alleyways by their homes.

Earlier this year, we reported how the council had said it would begin issuing £60 fines if residents failed to return their waste and recycling bins onto their property within 24 hours of collection.

“Leaving your bin out on the pavement or in alleys causes a nuisance and has negative impacts on our neighbourhoods,” they said.

However, the announcement was met with anger and concern from many residents, who said numerous homes in the district have a lack of space to house at least three wheelie bins and a food container.

Lancaster City Council were warning residents about a £60 fine for leaving wheelie bins out.

placeholder image — Lancaster City Council were warning residents about a £60 fine for leaving wheelie bins out.

Most were instead kept in the ginnels behind terraced properties, or in some cases in front of the houses.

MP Cat Smith said she had been challenging the council on the warnings – and has now had a response.

“As residents are aware, earlier this year Lancaster City Council took the decision to move away from recycling storge boxes in preference of wheelie bins when the Government launched the Simpler Recycling Scheme, which included the creation of food waste bin collections, along with existing paper/card, dry recyclables (glass, metal and plastic), and general waste.

“For many people in Lancaster’s terraced houses, this created an issue of where to place the new bins as their rear gardens were inaccessible or too small.

“Subsequently, Lancaster City Council began giving warnings and fines to residents placing bins in the front yards of their properties, as well as the rear alleyways which have been historically used for bin storage.

“I’m pleased to provide an update that following my enquiries, Lancaster City Council has confirmed ‘…the project will now focus more on residents who are presenting waste incorrectly or experiencing issues with waste management, rather than on the location of bins in back streets.

“‘Bins that present a health and safety risk or obstruct public access will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.’

“This is the right thing to do and I’m pleased the council have had a rethink on this, because fundamentally it isn’t fair for the council to force a move to new wheelie bins then fine residents who don’t have the space for them.”

Lancaster City Council has been contacted for comment.