Council Appeals for Considerate Parking as Alleyway Access Issues Affect Bin Collections
Council Appeals for Considerate Parking as Alleyway Access Issues Affect Bin Collections
Residents in parts of Oswaldtwistle, West Accrington and Spring Hill are being asked to park considerately after blocked alleyway entrances increasingly caused delays to waste and recycling collections.
In a small number of streets where bins are collected from rear alleys, waste collection crews are regularly unable to gain access because parked vehicles are obstructing entrances or restricting safe access for staff and vehicles.
Image: Two cars block access to a back alley in Accrington on the morning of bin collections
The issue has led to repeated delays and, in some cases, collections being missed altogether. Crews often return several times in an effort to complete collections once access becomes available. In one recent example, a crew had to revisit the same street on six consecutive days before they were finally able to access the alley and empty residents’ bins.
The Council has previously written to residents in some affected areas and is continuing to work with local communities to encourage considerate parking and reduce disruption to collections.
The Council is also discussing potential options with Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Constabulary to help improve access in problem locations. These include measures to improve access where issues persist and, where necessary, considering enforcement options or alternative collection arrangements, such as designated collection points for affected streets.
Cllr Paul Cox, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, said:
“Our crews work incredibly hard to ensure bins are collected on schedule, and we know how important this service is to residents.”
“Unfortunately, when alley entrances are blocked, our teams cannot safely access bins and collections cannot take place. We are asking residents to help by keeping access points clear wherever possible.”
“Our preference is to work with residents to resolve these issues, but we are also exploring longer-term solutions with partner organisations to help ensure collections can be completed reliably in all areas.”
The Council is reminding motorists to be aware of alleyway access points when parking and to leave sufficient space for waste collection vehicles and crews to carry out their work safely and efficiently.