Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be totally and utterly fed up with Hartlepool Council and Thirteen?

77 replies

EmptyTheFrickingBins · 09/08/2023 18:35

I'm a regular posted but have name changed because this is going to be outing!

My bin was emptied today for the first time since May (you are not reading that wrong!)

I have contacted Hartlepool Council (HBC from now on) on multiple occasions asking for them to come and empty the bins and the only response they have given is "the bins weren't emptied because they weren't presented."

The bins weren't presented first because because the gates to the communal yard were padlocked closed and then because pest control work was being carried out and we were asked to stay out of the yard.

There are 10+ bins of both colours overflowing with rubbish.

A rat jumped out of mine last night when I was moving it! As a ground floor tenant (small block of flats) I'm paranoid about them getting in to my flat!

I spoke to the today and was told they wouldn't empty the grey recycling bins because they are filled with general waste. They are, but the contractors employed by Thirteen are the ones who filled them while they were killing 60+ rats and removing over a ton of rubbish. I was told to take the rubbish to the local tip - I don't drive and even if I did I wouldn't want rat piss and shit covered rubbish (not to mention the maggots, rotting food and other assorted disgustingness) anywhere near my car. It's a health hazard!

Neither HBC nor Thirteen are willing to take responsibility for the rubbish.

I am so totally and utterly fed up of the stink, the flies, the rats and just fighting with them that I'm considering moving.

I have just written to my MP but is there anything else I can do?

To be totally and utterly fed up with Hartlepool Council and Thirteen?
To be totally and utterly fed up with Hartlepool Council and Thirteen?
To be totally and utterly fed up with Hartlepool Council and Thirteen?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Ginmonkeyagain · 10/08/2023 16:11

Yes - so your freeholder needs to arrange a private clearance. It seems that it is them you should compain to not the Council.

Whygobald · 10/08/2023 19:13

It seems like Thirteen shouldn't have paid the pest control company when they left your recycling contaminated and didn't take away all the waste. Thirteen needs to be convinced to hire a private waste company to clear the courtyard. If the tenants could organise and pay for a private waste company more quickely then Thirteen could be forced to refund you.

It a huge health and safety risk for you all but it's not the council's fault. Waiting for the council to fix it could lead to people getting sick or injured.

LakieLady · 10/08/2023 19:30

Elvis1956 · 09/08/2023 18:51

Have you contacted your local councillor rather than the employees of the council...they are often very helpful in these circumstances

Same here. Trying to talk to the staff to get anything done utterly pointless.

They're good at emptying the bins, though, so credit where it's due.

Tinkerbyebye · 10/08/2023 19:34

Go to your local papers , post the pics all over Facebook

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 10/08/2023 19:47

Blame George Osborne and every Tory government since. Its what "we" voted for.

Seymour5 · 10/08/2023 21:09

Ginmonkeyagain · 10/08/2023 16:11

Yes - so your freeholder needs to arrange a private clearance. It seems that it is them you should compain to not the Council.

Havebyou read the OPs posts? Her landlord is a company called Thirteen, who she has been in contact with.

FurbleSocks · 10/08/2023 21:20

Definitely contact the local paper with photos and get them to come out for a sad face story. Make sure it's clear in the story what you need the resolution to be and why, rather than just a timeline of everything that's gone wrong.

Some of that is clearly fly tipping and should be reported to the HA because the council won't ever collect it. If it was on council land they would have to.

The rest needs someone with some common sense at Thirteen to take ownership of a one off clear up and a letter to residents not to lock the access and if it happens again what the consequences would be. Then next time anyone affected can just take a bolt cutter to the padlock to stop everyone being penalised.

Out of interest do you know why the resident decided to padlock it?

Ginmonkeyagain · 11/08/2023 08:01

@Seymour5 ok so it's a HA who own the block. It is still their responsibility to sort out the fact the bin store is locked and is a poor state as they own it. The OP would be better off pursuing them, not the Council.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 11/08/2023 08:11

I work in this sector although in a different professional role.

You need to raise a formal complaint with both the HA and the council, advise it’s a health and safety risk, not only for the tenants but the general public.

Advise that if they don’t act promptly is getting this resolved then you will be contacting environment health regarding them not carrying out their tenancy agreement/ and failing their legal obligation to ensuring the health and safety of their tenants and general public.

I do have to say tho, the tenants also need to be responsible for their waste management, they need to double wrap bin waste, some of that is just dumped there, it’s not been all opened by the vermin.

Original poster
EmptyTheFrickingBins · 12/08/2023 17:20

Thank you. Some of the rubbish has been removed though I'm not sure who by - the bins are still overflowing and still being used a rat hotels.

OP posts:
HoliHormonalTigerLillyTheSecond · 13/08/2023 04:48

Check out which Cllr leads on environmental / neighbourhood issues Op and write to them.
Also write what you have done here all over their social media.

HoliHormonalTigerLillyTheSecond · 13/08/2023 04:49

and Green Strategy - Hartlepool Borough Council [[https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20017/neighbourhoods/614/clean_and_green_strategy/1 www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20017/neighbourhoods/614/clean<a class="break-all" href="https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20017/neighbourhoods/614/clean_and_green_strategy/1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">anddgreenstrategy/1

Summersunorrain · 13/08/2023 06:12

I'm really sorry to see that your council think it's ok for the residents to live like this.

I know you said you have health issues, so you can't do much physically (you shouldn't have to take it to the tip!) but you have some very clear / good photos. I'd get them out to your local councillors. Do you have an area page on Facebook? Local press? They show clearly the mess and dirt you are expected to live it. Hopefully it'll stir someone to help you.

I hope it is sorted for all you quickly.

Longtalljosie · 13/08/2023 06:21

Email the Hartlepool Mail and the Northern Echo. It’s an amazing how having to write a press statement concentrates the mind on the problem at hand. You’re lucky that you still seem to have a local media.

JScottTV · 14/08/2023 09:45

@EmptyTheFrickingBins Hi there. Are you able to contact me? I work for BBC TV. My email is [email protected]

Original poster
EmptyTheFrickingBins · 14/08/2023 10:45

JScottTV · 14/08/2023 09:45

@EmptyTheFrickingBins Hi there. Are you able to contact me? I work for BBC TV. My email is [email protected]

You have my permission to use anything I've already posted but beyond that I'm not comfortable.

OP posts:
JScottTV · 14/08/2023 10:48

Thank you for this! I appreciate that. Do you mind still sending me a message so I can establish some basic details on this? Many thanks, Jim

Original poster
EmptyTheFrickingBins · 18/08/2023 19:56

Holy crap!

The story worked! I came in from work just now and the yard is tidy! I'm absolutely amazed and absolutely made up! 😁😁😁

Will add a pic in a sec (the upstairs neighbours are talking and I don't want them to think I'm a loon 😂)

OP posts:
FurbleSocks · 18/08/2023 21:38

Great news!

LakieLady · 18/08/2023 22:44

Excellent news!

That must be a relief, OP.

Seymour5 · 19/08/2023 07:45

Good result!

CheshireDing · 19/08/2023 08:08

The power of journalism in a positive way ! :)

Excellent work Jim

Ginmonkeyagain · 19/08/2023 08:10

Definitely - great to see good local journalism that has a real impact, rather than lazy journos just ripping off stories online to sneer at people.

GaspingGekko · 19/08/2023 08:29

JScottTV · 14/08/2023 10:48

Thank you for this! I appreciate that. Do you mind still sending me a message so I can establish some basic details on this? Many thanks, Jim

Great result Jim! So glad for you OP.