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Original poster

AIBU to report neighbours leaving bins blocking pavement for wheelchair access?

36 replies

Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 18:24

This might sound petty, but hear me out.

Bin day is a Tuesday. One week the bins come early, at 7am (black, general waste) and the next week they come about 11am (green, recycling) and it alternates like that.

The people a few houses down put their bins (two of them) out on the pavement at 11am on a Monday, every week without fail. So it's up to 24 hours in advance that they are sat there.

It's a narrow street, with no dropped curbs and a high camber in the road.

I am a wheelchair user and when I'm going along the pavement, I literally can't get around the bins. I can't navigate my chair onto the road as there is no dropped curbs and the camber is so high. My options when I come across them are ot reverse up the street or wait for a passerby to help me.

This is the only route to my bus stop and I need to school runs and get to and from work.

I see them walking their dog past my house several times a day, so I know they are around after they put the bins out. I've no idea why they do it so early. They always take them back in the second the bin men have been too. Like, before they've even pulled away.

My husband has been round twice to explain the situation and ask them not to block the pavement for a whole 24 hours. They didn't answer both times even though we had seen them pull into the drive and go in, the second time he put a note through the door.

I saw them walk past at the weekend and went to the door and politely asked if they had got my husband's note and if it was OK to please note do that. They could see I'm in a wheelchair. They looked sheepish and said "Oh yeah, OK, fine" but then today... They did it again! I was stuck until a lady helped me round.

I've also seen several mums with pushchairs have to walk into the road to get round them too.

What can I do? I absolutely hate to be "that person". I just want to live my life, go to school and work and move along the street I live on with independence and feel they are being very selfish and inconsiderate.

If they won't listen to us, can we report them to the council? I am pretty sure there's is a council house. I don't want to but if I have to can l/should I? And do the council have powers?

TIA

OP posts:
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SquirrelRed · 16/03/2026 20:05

I would definitely report if I were you. Our council says bins can't be put out earlier than 7pm the night before, and there is an online form to fill in to report those not following the rules- yours may have something similar?
Good luck, I really hope you can get it sorted.

HorseMadChild · 16/03/2026 19:52

I put my local councillor in my spare chair, the one that slides on a steep pavement. It was bin day. He struggled. But it said more than I could say!

How about contacting your local mp? You've been polite, now I'd report.

Original poster
Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 19:40

Chestnutmarenutjob · 16/03/2026 19:24

Do you use an electric chair? I’d ram their bin out the way. Hopefully it falls over and they have to go pick it all up. Absolute entitled CF’ers.

people can be so bloody selfish.

report to council, and keep on at them.

I do, but it would just fall over and spill their rubbish everywhere, and still be in my way. They're also probably too heavy for me. They're full the whole time they are out. Taken in the second they are emptied.

OP posts:
blubberyboo · 16/03/2026 19:39

Send your husband out every Monday night to push it over onto the road or onto their property
hopefully all the contents spill out and the collectors refuse to lift or empty it

after a few weeks they might change their tune

Magsbd · 16/03/2026 19:34

Speak to the council. There are rules and regulations regarding when bins are put out. Also bins should not cause an obtstruction to neighbours.

eurochick · 16/03/2026 19:33

Can you get an air horn? Blast it outside their house until they come and move the bins.

Lmnop22 · 16/03/2026 19:30

Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 18:39

It's actually a bit more than annoying.

Imagine not being able to walk along your own street and then been stuck in one place, often with your young children, and then having to rely on strangers to help you.

Show quote history

I didn’t mean to sound blasé, I just don’t want you to get your hopes up that the council will actually be able to do anything about it or care to bother trying - that’s just the sad reality!

Seawolves · 16/03/2026 19:29

Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 19:13

Thank you, and so do I! People really don't appreciate how hard it can be when you can't move along the street. Years ago, before I ended up this way and was just a mum pushing a buggy, I thought it was bad enough, but at least then I was physically able to walk into the road, however dangerous.

Now I am just stuck!

Show quote history

I hear you. I have a 5 year old who's in a specialist wheelchair, his chair simply does not bump up and down all but the lowest of kerbs so dropped kerbs are essential for us to be able to cross the road. So many people say "Just go into the road and round it" when it comes to an obstruction on the pavement with zero understanding of just how hard that can be. Bumping up and down kerbs can also cause him pain and just makes his life in general miserable at times.

Report it. Every single time.

PandoraSocks · 16/03/2026 19:26

I think getting in touch with your local councillor is a good idea. Where I am you can be fined for putting out the bins too early

Some people are just selfish arseholes, sadly.

Chestnutmarenutjob · 16/03/2026 19:24

Do you use an electric chair? I’d ram their bin out the way. Hopefully it falls over and they have to go pick it all up. Absolute entitled CF’ers.

people can be so bloody selfish.

report to council, and keep on at them.

muddyford · 16/03/2026 19:23

We have the same and the same inconsiderate morons leave the bins out till Friday. Like with you our collection day is Tuesday.

SerendipityJane · 16/03/2026 19:20

"Reporting" is all very well, but fuck all help to a person freezing outside who cannot pass. And it's bad enough being utterly vulnerable in a wheelchair as it is.

This is where you realise that prams - which can be taken over a curb - and wheelchairs which cannot are not "the same".

MoreRainbowsPlease · 16/03/2026 19:13

My friend who is in a wheelchair regularly reports people who leave their bins out on the pavements all the time. Our council sends out 1 warning letter, and then will fine people (I guess it's a bit of revenue for them!), usually the warning letter works. I'm not sure that this is the same for all councils, but our council's bin guidelines do state that bins should be put out on the edge of your property, not on the pavement, if you do have to put them on the pavement for example because you have no front garden, then they are not to be put out before 6.30am on the day of collection. It might be worth finding out if your council has similar conditions.

Original poster
Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 19:13

Roaminginthegloaming · 16/03/2026 19:01

@Wheelchairbarbie

I would contact your Ward Councillor (you can find out who it is by going to www.gov.uk and typing in your postcode) to look into this matter.

Also if you have any PCSO’s in your area it might be worth having a word and see if they will go round to your neighbour’s for ‘a chat’.

Hope you get this matter resolved asap!

Thank you, and so do I! People really don't appreciate how hard it can be when you can't move along the street. Years ago, before I ended up this way and was just a mum pushing a buggy, I thought it was bad enough, but at least then I was physically able to walk into the road, however dangerous.

Now I am just stuck!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 19:10

Cosleepingadvice · 16/03/2026 19:03

Does your council use the fixmystreet website? If so, you can try reporting on there. Our council usually addresses issues within 24hrs and it will then be dealt with by them. If you report it every time it happens, it may spur them into action. Sorry this is happening!

Sadly not. I've not heard of fixmystreet before and just had a look. It says my council don't accept reports via that website :(

Shame because it looks really good and easy to use

OP posts:
Edictfromno10 · 16/03/2026 19:07

Absolutely unacceptable, and incredibly selfish. You've tried being reasonable and spoken to them about it, but I suspect a fine will likely be required to see any actual behavioural change unfortunately. Definitely report it.

Wonkywalker · 16/03/2026 19:04

Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 19:01

That's a good idea, thank you. I'll have a look now and print it off

Show quote history

Your local council website on bins may have a better bit to print out on your local council policy and find structure - or you could laminate the policy and attach it to the offending bin!

Cosleepingadvice · 16/03/2026 19:03

Does your council use the fixmystreet website? If so, you can try reporting on there. Our council usually addresses issues within 24hrs and it will then be dealt with by them. If you report it every time it happens, it may spur them into action. Sorry this is happening!

Roaminginthegloaming · 16/03/2026 19:01

@Wheelchairbarbie

I would contact your Ward Councillor (you can find out who it is by going to www.gov.uk and typing in your postcode) to look into this matter.

Also if you have any PCSO’s in your area it might be worth having a word and see if they will go round to your neighbour’s for ‘a chat’.

Hope you get this matter resolved asap!

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Original poster
Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 19:01

Wonkywalker · 16/03/2026 19:00

The link I sent specifically refers to wheelchair users as a reason to fine people who leave bins out too early - could you perhaps get your husband to drop off the guidance so they can see the potential size of the fine ?

That's a good idea, thank you. I'll have a look now and print it off

OP posts:
Wonkywalker · 16/03/2026 19:00

The link I sent specifically refers to wheelchair users as a reason to fine people who leave bins out too early - could you perhaps get your husband to drop off the guidance so they can see the potential size of the fine ?

Tableforjoan · 16/03/2026 18:59

You can report them but the council may not be bothered as it won’t be classed as a high priority issue.

Our website just state bins must be out before 6:45am and returned to your property as soon as possible. Nothing about blocking pavements.

Original poster
Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 18:57

hahabahbag · 16/03/2026 18:54

(But sometimes they do come early hence having to put out the night before)

They night before is different to the morning before. I'm talking 11am the day before collection. They are around because I have seen them. They go out to walk their dog several times after they've put the bins out.

OP posts:
hahabahbag · 16/03/2026 18:54

(But sometimes they do come early hence having to put out the night before)

Original poster
Wheelchairbarbie · 16/03/2026 18:53

FateAmenableToChange · 16/03/2026 18:50

Is there a footpath on the other side of the road? If they leave the house for work they might have to put the bins out early. Unfortunately not much to be done if there is nowhere else to put them.

I did explain both those points in my OP -

I can't cross the road. There's no drop curb and the camber is too high.

They haven't left for work. I see them walk their dog past my house several times a day, after they've put the bins out. And they put them out a full 24 hours before they are collected, 11am the day before.

OP posts: