Many passers-by have been infuriated over recent months by the untidy and malodorous state of London Street.
Broken bin bags, strewn rubbish, and seagulls strutting about as if they own the place have become all too familiar sights.
It’s interesting, therefore, to learn that London Street residents themselves have been among the most frustrated and disgusted observers of the problem.
Happily, the situation looks likely to be resolved after a stiffly worded letter was sent to the Council a few days ago. Below is a version, shown to the Spurtle afterwards as a courtesy since our short piece in this month’s Issue 237 was mentioned in it. Authors' names have been removed at their request.
Unsanitary, unaesthetic, depressing and demoralising
We noted in this month's issue of the local Spurtle newspaper that ‘CEC insists London St strongly favours gull-proof bags over communal bins’. We, as residents in London Street, wish to proclaim loud and clear, as we have always done, that we do NOT want gull-proof sacks. They are in fact the bane of our lives, and we and our neighbours here in London Street have long been in favour of communal bins.
If you are in any doubt about the objectionableness of gull-proof bags, come round here the morning after an official rubbish collection. Yesterday, Thursday Dec. 4th, 2014, was a perfect example of the unsanitary, unaesthetic, depressing and demoralising results of gull-proof bag use. Half the people on London Street have no idea what is expected of them – many are just passing through, or have newly arrived. They often put rubbish out on the 'wrong' day of the week. This week they got the time right (Wednesday night) but improperly put unbagged rubbish straight into the gull-proof bags. This was of course not collected. So it fell out of the bags all over the street, and just sat around. All day. Several real mountains of trash.
In our view, this smelly disarray encourages dog fouling as well, with which London Street is unusually plagued these days. And how do you think all this mess helps your beloved tourist trade, or indeed Edinburgh commerce? It is a rich source of alienation, if not of rats and disease. It isn't even gull season now. And it's not just the trash, spread across every pavement, that is an eyesore: we object too to the ugliness, the absolute hideousness, of the gull-proof bags themselves, even when hung dutifully on railings. Whether full to bursting or not, they are an abomination.
We want to know when we were all canvassed about our opinion on communal bins, because no one we know was ever consulted. If you did not canvass us all, how is it that you reached the conclusion that we're 'happy' about having to use gull-proof sacks? It doesn't sound like a very scientific study.
For the record, we are NOT happy about it, have NEVER been happy about it, and have long clamoured for communal bins to be at our disposal, as – gallingly – they now seem to be, on every other street in the vicinity! This is absurd. Decide on a city-wide rubbish system and stick with it. Not only did the council burden London Street with a uniquely ridiculous method of rubbish disposal, but this year you also reduced the number of rubbish collections to once a week. We feel doubly persecuted by the CEC.
By the way, if you are listening to the opinions of the Drummond Civic Association, we would suggest that you stop. They are not a widely representative body, they certainly do not represent opinions on London Street, and nobody we know agrees with a single thing they say.
Council responds with ballot offer
Thank you for your email.I would like to advise that communal bins have been introduced across the World Heritage Site as a result of the decision of the Transport and Environment Committee in November 2011 to phase out the collection of waste in sacks. This is as a result of the problems associated with gulls and other vermin spreading waste. This decision was reached after a number of pilot collection systems were tried, as well as a consultation which took place over the course of 2011, and the background to this is outlined in the attached report. The results of the consultation are also outlined from 3.5 onwards. The decision was to introduce bins, except in limited circumstances where gull proof bags could be used.In terms of London Street there was objections from your street and residents who did respond to the consultation wanted gull proof bags. Gull proof bags were only given to streets that showed a preference for them and this was the case in your street. It has always been the case that the Council prefers communal bins over gull bags.I do understand your frustrations. We are aware that there are many residents who feel the way you do. We have been planning on balloting gull bag streets and asking residents if they would like to change to communal bins. I would be happy to do this for your street first in the New Year.Please let me know if you would be happy with this.
Compliments of the season
The original London Street correspondents have now enthusiastically accepted the offer of a ballot, praising CEC for what they describe as an impressive, informative and sensitive response.
This is the swiftest and happiest outcome of public–Council discussion Spurtle's come across in a long time. Merry Christmas, everyone. Pass the port. Big hugs all round.
Got a view? Tell us at spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Facebook
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@theSpurtle London St clearly can't cope with bags, but Gt King St seems to manage. Why? Because its residents are more fragrant & refined?
@theSpurtle @LAHinds @Edinburgh_CC Good grief ... positive feedback! Many thanks ;-)
.@theSpurtle "seagulls strutting about as if they own the place" WHY WON'T WILD ANIMALS RESPECT PROPERTY OWNERSHIP
Rose de Smidt About time too! Maybe then the residents of London Street will stop using the bins that belong to East London Street? Making them too full for the residents supposed to be using them!!
BroughtonSpurtle 'Bin tourism' is annoying. Makes you wonder how East Lothian residents feel about all our general waste going into their landfill.