The sight and smell of the overflowing bins is truly disgusting and a serious health hazard – some residents have already spotted rats amongst the torn sacks. Let us not forget that many communal bins are sited directly outside people’s homes. What I find truly amazing is the dire management decisions taken by CityClean. Whilst the filth has been piling up around the communal bins over the past few days CityClean caged trucks could been seen driving around the central area, but only collecting the waste from litter bins. Would it not be more intelligent to task these workers with collecting the hundreds of strewn sacks around the communal bins? One would have thought that would be common sense.

Perhaps it is time for CityClean and our council to follow the lead of Jersey Council who disposed of communal bins as a failed and costly experiment. Furthermore with the lower ranks of the CityClean workforce threatened with massive pay cuts it might be more appropriate for our city council to dock the over-inflated salaries of CityClean management, who have clearly demonstrated their hopeless lack of competence and propensity for creating city-wide problems.

Some good news is that the strike has been delayed by 28 days, apparently after the personal intervention of the new chief executive, John Barradell. We shall have to wait and see if they can hammer out a long-term solution.

Related posts:

1. Local History: Communal Bins Arrive
2. Letters: Communal Bins
3. Letters: Letter To Councillor Geoffrey Theobald (Council Cabinet Member For The Environment) Regarding Communal Bins

Something must be done! As a Clifton, Montpelier and Powis conservation area resident, 5′ 1″ in height, I find it most difficult to use these communal bins.

The handles are stiff, dirty and an obvious germ trap. You are aware that the lids are thrown open and stay that way (not done by short people, as we can’t achieve enough force at such a low angle to enable us to throw he lids all the way open!) and yet you insist that ‘residents’ found in favour of this new, more expensive type.  Difficult to believe.  It’s a huge design fault.  A better option would have been to have had sliding access lids with handles at the bottom of the lid.

I have yet to see one of the older style bins left open, except when over-full; the lids are too heavy and yet you claim that this isn’t so.  Today, the first 6 new-style bins I saw were all open.  Retro-fitting, presumably, does not come free – who’s paying for it?

The bin situated in Victoria Place is now re-sited, as it was proven that the collection vehicle couldn’t make the narrow turn.  It’s been dumped, presumably without consultation, outside a house in Montpelier Street!

I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve seen leaving their garden waste in these bins, instead of recycling, and fly tippers have come out in force and seem particularly fond of Spring Street. How many more times must we tell you and others in office that we do not want and do not need these bins in our conservation area? How much longer is it to be before you actually do something that the residents want?  Yes, we have conducted our own surveys.

And, finally, would you have faith in the Council’s assisted service?

Christine Stubbs, via email

Related posts:

1. Letters: Communal Bins
2. Letters: More On Communal Bins
3. Communal Bins Overflow

Related posts:

1. Communal Bins Overflow
2. Letters: Letter To Councillor Geoffrey Theobald (Council Cabinet Member For The Environment) Regarding Communal Bins
3. Welcome To The Future

The Rapid Transport System is a fascinating union of forward-thinking and cutting- edge 21st century technology. It consists of a modular transport device which moves by means petroleum-fuelled propulsion system which in turn drives a set of four rounded units constructed of space-age rubber, two of which can be controlled by the Rapid Transport System’s control wheel (similar in some ways to an old-fashioned ship’s wheel) and used to change its direction mid-journey.

REGENCY magazine’s editor, Tony Davenport, was lucky enough to have a trip on the Rapid Transport System.
“When I was a boy this was the sort of thing you just read about in science fiction comics – I never thought I would see such a thing in my lifetime, let alone have a chance to ride in one.” Tony told us. “I stepped on in the town centre, and within about 23 minutes I was at the Marina. Prior to the multi-million pound investment by Brighton and Hove Council such a journey would have taken a full 2 minutes longer. Thanks to this boost from the taxpayer soon everyone will have the chance to ride on this.”

Smelling salts were offered to disembarking passengers for whom the speed and excitement had proven too much.

Related posts:

1. Communal Bins Overflow