Bins blocking footpaths in this Kildare town
Bins on Eyre St, Newbridge
CONCERNS over domestic waste bins being left on Newbridge town centre footpaths, were raised at a recent meeting of Kildare County Council.
Cllr Chris Pender called on the council to examine the issue and report on the extent of bin storage problems in converted shopfronts and above-shop apartments.
He also requested that the council identify practical solutions to protect pedestrian access and ensure that future change-of-use developments adequately address waste storage requirements at planning stage.
In response, the council outlined recent changes to planning regulations governing the conversion of vacant commercial properties into residential use, which do not include the need for planning permission.
Under standard planning requests, residential blocks would require the construction of a bin storage area. However, due to the planning exemption for certain change-of-use developments, such as the converted residential developments on Eyre St, the provision of a bin storage was not required.
The report also reminded residents of kerbside waste presentation rules, which require bins to be kept within the curtilage of a property except on designated collection days.
Waste containers must not be placed on roads or footpaths earlier than 8pm the evening before collection and must be removed by 8am the following morning.
The council noted that fixed payment notices may be issued for breaches of these byelaws.
It added that any instances of persistently blocked footpaths should be reported to the council’s environment department for investigation.
Cllr Pender explained a situation where pedestrians are finding it increasingly difficult to use the footpath due to the sheer amount of bins on the street, particularly those with children in prams and wheelchair users.
“If you walk down Eyre Street all you’re seeing is wheely bins,” remarked cllr Pender. “There’s nowhere to walk on the road because you can’t get past the bins.”
The Social Democrats councillor noted that fines have been issued to those who are leaving bins on the street outside their allocated bin collection day, even while “they have nowhere to put it".
“I would like to see the council identify a way for the provision of a bins store,” he said.
Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer included that due to a lack of a bin storage area, other people are dumping waste in these domestic bins.
A council representative noted that domestic bins are the property and responsibility of the owners. They also noted that community wardens are to keep an eye out for bins left out on the street.
Cllr Pender argued that while he agrees that bins should not be left out, residents have nowhere else to put them, and so should not be penalised for it.
“Where do you want them to put them? Their bedroom?,” he said. “We can fine them, but we’ll be fining them again and again. We need to provide an alternative.”
Cllr O’Dywer suggested that the provision of a bin storage area should go into the County Development Plan, while cllr Pender suggested referring the issue to the Housing and Environment SPCs.
