Wimbledon Bingate: The story so far

The announcement of allocated bin collection times in Wimbledon Town Centre has caused a bit of a stir. 

Merton Council announced plans for a waste contractor Your waste contractor would collect your waste between 6am and 8am and 6pm and 8pm.

Conservative Environment Spokesman Councillor Richard Hilton has said: "We all want clean streets but as usual the Labour Council has acted in haste and hasn't considered the impact on residents. If they'd bothered to ask us in advance, we would have pointed out these problems."

"Forcing residents and businesses to put bins out in just two one-hour long slots will clearly disrupt lives. For that reason alone this is a daft idea; combine it with the plans to fine people who disobey this ridiculous rule and it becomes a shockingly vindictive one too."

Meanwhile, The Dundonald Lib Dem Focus Team has fed back to the Council after being contacted by residents worried about how this scheme affects them. They asked:

•What research and consultation was done with affected residents to choose the time bands that worked for them?

•Why is a one hour time band used? Neighbouring Wandsworth has two hour bands in the morning and evening (this might mitigate some of the worst effects on residents);

•Why residential and commercial properties were being treated the same? It appears that because only a relatively small number of residents are affected that their needs are being ignored.

A roadshow on the scheme is being set up in Wimbledon Piazza so businesses can find out more about the scheme.

What do you think of the scheme? Leave your comments below.