Lincoln man prosecuted for leaving wheelie bins out on street

A Lincoln man has been fined nearly £600 for repeatedly leaving his bins out on the street, despite several warnings.

Keith Newton, of Smith Street, was found guilty in his absence at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, May 13 of failing to remove his bins from the highway.

The court heard that Newton had left his bins out obstructing the pavement for at least two days after collection day on eight separate occasions between December 2014 and February 2015.

He was ordered to pay a £400 fine, costs of £150 and a £40 victims’ surcharge.

An officer from City of Lincoln Council’s Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour Team first visited Newton’s house in December 2014 following a complaint from a member of the public that wheelie bins had been left on the pavement.

The bins were left out on a further seven occasions, during which time the council sent Newton a letter and an official notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

A Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 was then issued but was ignored, along with all previous correspondence.

Sam Barstow, Service Manager for Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Residents are required to put their bins out no earlier than the evening before their collection, and are asked to put them away again on the day.

“This is because in Lincoln’s narrow streets wheelie bins can be a hazard to pedestrians, particularly the elderly, wheelchair users, the disabled and families with young children in pushchairs, who are either forced onto the road or cannot get past.

“Bins also detract from the quality of our neighbourhoods and drag the image of an area down.

“Mr Newton was given several chances to co-operate but continued to leave his wheelie bins obstructing the pavement.

“Taking court action is a last resort, but one of the most common complaints we receive from residents is about the inconvenience and poor image bins on the street cause.

“The city council, its partners and community members take pride in the city street scene and we collectively seek to make improvements wherever possible.”

Anyone who experiences problems with neighbours leaving their bins out can call the Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour Team on 01522 873378, or report it online.