To expect the council to address this

[User9loooool]

A neighbour across the street directly opposite has been blocking the public road with their bins since last year. They swap the bins each week after the bin men have been, leaving their property to walk the bin into the road for the next coming week. This means that yes, they leave their house and walk down to the street each time they need to use their bin.

The bin is strategically placed to block any cars from parking in that one spot on the public road. They do not park in it themselves. We think they do it because they like to have more room to pull their car out from their parking space. The road is wide enough for 2 cars to pass each other. I assume a car parked there means you have to make a tighter right turn. Not impossible to get out, or blocking them in any way. Most of the roads here are designed the same way. Cars are parked behind this bin spot. They have an expensive car. However what usually happens is often delivery vans have nowhere to park up because the bin is there, so they end up just stopping in the middle of the road and no one can get past at all. The bin is making things worse.

I contacted the council and asked who owned the road and they confirmed the council did. I asked if anyone had applied to have lines painted to prevent parking (as I do not mind this if the council agree it’s appropriate). They had not applied for lines. I explained bin blocking the road for months and they assured me this was not acceptable and they would visit the property and then tell the owner to move it, and if they didn’t, they would get a fine.

I waited 2 months and nothing happened. I emailed the council with photos (time stamped) and got a response that they were visiting the property. I waited another 2 months and emailed and the woman I was dealing with didn’t even remember what it was about!

I feel is now petty on my part but it’s the principal for me. Not everyone here has parking and it is so incredibly entitled to have not just your own parking spaces (they have 2!) but actively prevent others from parking on a public road who pay their own road tax. Apply for lines on the road if it matters that much to you! I wouldn’t even object if it was carried out rationally.

Yes sometimes people move the bin but they have retaliated by throwing things onto peoples cars!

I was looking at my council website the other day for bin information and saw that's it's a £75 fine for leaving your bin out more than 24 hours. I didn't know this, I often leave mine out (it's not on the road, and not obstructing the pavement, there's a verge it goes on) but now I know this I'll bring it in quicker. Neighbours sometimes bring it in, as I do theirs too.

Anyway, £75 every day for your council is worth them taking the time over!

As well as the "bin" department, you could report the road blocking to the highways team. And the vandalism to the police.

Also, even if you did hit the bin, it's not "their" bin, don't they remain council property anyway?

Agree with pp, just move the bin into the next street or something so they can’t find it. If they order another one from the council, do the same thing.

Exactly they told me this, it’s a fine - I don’t mind this, would raise money for my council! To get continuously fined!

But they just vandalise cars which is more problematic than the bin

Our council website says you have to take it to the public highway, not leave it on your property. Luckily we have, from my house - drive, verge, pavement, road. So it goes on the verge to the side of my drive opening. The bin men often leave it right in the middle of the opening of my drive (so, still in the verge zone, but in front of my drive). Which does make me laugh! I work from home so sometimes don't leave the house for days and I just forget it's out there!

I would take it up with The Police

Its the sort of thing that can escalate into a neighbour dispute

I'd hide their bins completely and make sure the camera was working to ensure I got footage of them vandalising cars!!

My inner petty Polly would live for this!

Not sure Sting would be that interested tbh.....

Have you spoken to your local councillor?

That is the normal route if you aren't happy with how the council is handling something

I emailed the local parish council but had no reply. I will try some more direct contact with one of them

Its the District/County not the Parish Council

Bins will probably be your local council not parish

This will tell you which council and you can then find your councillor from their website

https://www.gov.uk/rubbish-collection-day

Good luck

Message your local councillor. They usually get things moving if they are stuck internally.

But a lot of council staff are stretched very thin at the moment after years of budget cuts and pay freezes

Bins aren’t cheap

move it far away

others in the street also want it moved- work together

I think we need a diagram.

and contact your local councillor!

I'm a district councillor.
If this was in my ward I would like to hear about it.

And yes, councillors have access to the council officers that you won't have.

OP, you've said that they vandalise the cars if you move their bin, but if as a PP suggested you do it at night, and park in your normal place, then they won't know who's car to vandalise.

Go out late at night like 2am or 3am in the morning and move the bins into another far away postcode.

Smear food all over the handles and all over the bins so that it's hideous for them to use the bin each time. Do it discreetly. 😀

This. No-one from the council will come out. Just keep moving the bins. Once people see someone is moving them, they’ll start doing it too.

Honestly I'd just pay a couple of randoms to wheel her bins away half a mile or so.

Bins is one of the few statutory duties the district council has (well certainly in my area) and they can’t afford to do that.

I think I’d make it as hard for my neighbour as I could. I think their bin would go for little walks quite often.

Forget all the minions and take to to the Mayor.

Mayor is a ceremonial role in most councils. They can't help.

Move the bin but don't park there.