Isle Of Wight Bin 'Deeply Unpleasant': Is It A Rubbish Situation In Your Area?

Isle of Wight Radio listeners (and readers) have been expressing their frustration at an 'unacceptable' overflowing bin situation - that appears to be an issue across the Isle of Wight.

EXCLUSIVE...

A Seaview resident says she has to call the Isle of Wight Council every time the bin on Pier Road needs to be emptied. But says she is ‘not willing to provide a daily service - so the council can save a few pennies'. 

Writer Isabel Oakeshott says since regular collections stopped the situation outside her house has become 'unacceptable'.

She says there are 'always' piles of rubbish on the verge such as dirty nappies, empty beer bottles, crumpled baby wipes and old pizza boxes.

Miss Oakeshott claims the bin, which is on the road that leads down to Seagrove Bay, ‘has never been adequate’ for all the people who come to the beach or swim off the slipway.

The bin on Pier Road

Island Roads says, as part of its agreement with the Isle of Wight Council, the bin in question is only emptied once a week. As a result, Miss Oakeshott is worried that the situation will get worse during the summer.

As previously reported by Isle of Wight Radio, Visit Isle of Wight’s Managing Director Will Myles predicts a busier than usual tourist season on the Isle of Wight - as the Government is urging us to holiday in the UK.

Miss Oakeshott spoke exclusively to Isle of Wight Radio, she said:

“Seaview always gets very busy in summer -this year more then ever. In high season the very small litter bin near the slipway on Pier Road has never been adequate for all the people who come to enjoy the lovely beach or to swim off the slipway.

“By mid-afternoon, it’s always overflowing; by evening there are always piles of rubbish on the verge: dirty nappies; empty beer bottles; crumpled baby wipes and old pizza boxes.

"A gust of wind is all it takes to leave this horrible stuff strewn all over the road. It's deeply unpleasant for anyone who lives nearby and is letting down the village.

"I don’t mind being an occasional litter picker but I’m not willing to provide a daily service so the council can save a few pennies. Since they stopped regular collections the situation has become unacceptable.”

"Doubtless, some council officials will blame second homers -always an easy target. It’s worth pointing out that second homers pay their fair share of council tax -certainly enough to cover the disposal of a few extra-crisp packets.”

The bin on Pier Road

Other areas where concerns have been raised to Isle of Wight Radio about overflowing bins include:

• Victoria Wreck, Newport
• Colwell Bay
• Carisbrooke Castle 
• Appley
• St Helens
• Sandown
• Shanklin
• Bembridge
• Yaverland
• Lake cliff path

Island Roads claims bins in town centres and esplanades are emptied twice a day in the summer months between June and August and ones in ‘less busy areas are emptied less frequently’.

An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:

“The frequency at which some highway rubbish bins are emptied was changed in 2019 following a review of the demands on the service. However, the emptying frequency of the bin in Pier Road did not change as part of the review. 

“The pandemic has caused a change of peoples routines and we continue to work with Island Roads to monitor demand across the Island.”

A spokesperson for Island Roads added:

‘During October to April, we empty litter bins in town centres on a daily basis, and three times a week along the esplanades and residential areas. During May to September, we empty litter bins in town centres and esplanades on a daily basis and residential areas three times per week.

‘We will however carry out an additional emptying if accumulated rubbish that causes a safety hazard, or which constitutes fly-tipping,  is reported to us.

‘Litter bins do have a finite capacity as they are designed to take small waste items. When bins are full, we ask that the public take their rubbish to another bin that can accommodate it, or to retain their litter and dispose of it at home.’