'Disgraceful' bins upset Winchester residents and businesses

Residents and businesses complained over the state of the bins in the courtyard by the former Vodka Nightclub in Upper Brook Street, with one person even getting a punctured car tyre from broken glass on the floor.

With the rubbish build-up happening over the busy Christmas period, many believed The William Walker, in The Square, was to blame but staff insist they did all they could to get the issue sorted.

Broken glass on the floor (Image: Newsquest)

Tammeley Turvey-Butley, assistant manager at the pub, said the council has been moving their bins about until they find a permanent location. The staff have been using the area by Vodka since the summer.

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Tammeley Turvey-Butley, The William Walker (Image: Newsquest)

The assistant manager said: “It’s been very difficult. We’ve had a lot of complaints from residents.

“We have had a really busy period and the company that takes our bins is rubbish. Our bins weren’t being collected when they should have been which caused the build-up and other people were throwing their rubbish in with ours. The glass would get contaminated which made it all worse.

“We had so many back and forths with the company, trying to get it sorted and we kept the council updated.

“We had a very good Christmas period but we had so much waste and none of it was collected on time. It made us feel like it was our fault when actually we had done all we could.

“We really tried to get it sorted. We double bagged all our rubbish and put it neatly but we had a few residents come out and shout at us because of the issue.”

Javaid Akhtar, of Gervades dry cleaners, recalls the rubbish blocking the fire exit for residents and said there was broken glass on the floor every other day.

Javaid Akhtar (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Akhtar said: "It was disgraceful. It was only going to be a matter of time before we all got punctures. It’s never been that untidy ever.

“It went on for about a month. There was a lot of food and bottles. It wasn’t just overflowing it was strewn all over the place. Vodka would have never tolerated it this much, especially as they parked there.

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Rubbish 'strewn' over the courtyard (Image: Newsquest)

“I understand what the council is doing. The bins have been removed from in front of Robert Dyas and it does look prettier now. They’re trying to prettify the parts that are pretty. I like the town to look nice but I don’t want a punctured tyre and I need a good place for my business.

“Everybody would have been up in arms if all the rubbish was out front and not tucked away in the courtyard. I’ve been here 18 years and it’s never been that bad before. The council has done a brilliant job of cleaning it up now.”

A spokesperson for Winchester City Council said: “We share the concern of residents and others about the build-up of waste in some areas across the city. We are working alongside the BID with businesses to ensure that bins are used and managed responsibly.

“It is the responsibility of businesses to manage their waste collections contracts and their bin storage areas. In areas where the situation has become unsightly causing litter issues or health concerns, council officers have organised clearance of the fly-tipped material and will be working closely with businesses to ensure that bin storage areas are suitable and maintained better in the future.”