A BID to get householders to remove their bins from narrow pavements in Cinderford and Steam Mills have been rubbished.

A proposal to bar people from leaving their bins on Cinderford High Street was rejected by Forest of Dean district councillors.

Councillors were also told there was a similar problem on the main road through Steam Mills.

The proposal by Cinderford councillor Max Coborn was rejected on the grounds that householders have nowhere to store the bins.

Cllr Coborn (Lab, Cinderford East) told the full council: “Wheeled bins should be stored on private land at all times and only presented for emptying.

“They can cause a nuisance, danger or obstruction – wheeled bins on the highway can also lead to vandalism, fly-tipping and arson.”

But the council’s Cabinet member for environment, Cllr Marrilyn Smart (Con, Christchurch and English Bicknor), said it had been decided to allow residents to keep bins on the pavement after the matter was investigated last summer.

She said: “A letter was sent to the residents asking that the bins be taken back onto the properties and they were given the option of changing to beige sacks.

“The residents said they have no outdoor space to store bins and if they switched to sacks they would have to store their waste in the property for two weeks which they did not think was acceptable especially as most were bedsits and studio flats.

“The contract manager decided to let residents use bins rather than force them into a sack service.

“The street warden assessed there was enough room for pedestrians to pass and the bins did not cause a hazard.

“I believe taking this action would not be appropriate as many residents are leaving their bins on the High Street in Cinderford and at the front of properties in Steam Mills because they simply do not have anywhere else to store them.

“The only solution would be to write to these residents and tell them they will be given sacks.

“Members should also bear in mind this will lead to disgruntled residents and increased litter.”