Councillors in Tenby have hit out at Pembrokeshire County Council for appearing to wash their hands of issues surrounding ‘eyesore’ blue bins blocking the town’s historic walls after declaring the matter was ‘not an issue for their Waste Department’.

Members of the town council recently suggested that businesses responsible for leaving the blue bins against the walls along the South Parade needed to manage their trade waste disposal better, like other outlets in the town did, and take their waste off site every single day if they didn’t have the required storage space inside their premises for the waste bins.

“Let’s make it incredibly clear, no blue bins or any trade waste bins, other than those public bins put out by PCC, should be along the South Parade, St Florence Parade or anywhere near adjoining the town walls and Five Arches,” commented Clr. Laurence Blackhall on the matter, adding: “We have discussions about Tenby’s fantastic walls and making the most to appreciate them, and then people put dustbins against them! It’s lunacy.”

The town clerk Andrew Davies explained at Tuesday night’s meeting that he had responded to correspondence from PCC’s environmental services manager, Michael Harries, who had suggested that the town council write to the offending businesses to ask them to remove the blue bins.

Mr. Davies remarked that as it was PCC’s responsibility, the town council were not in a position to carry out any enforcement on the matter any way.

A further response to the matter from Paul Watkins ‘waste improvement manager’ from PCC was read out during discussions.

“The issues are not related in any way to the presentation of the waste for collection because the waste is contained within locked wheeled bins and presented in a location from which we can collect,” said Mr. Watkins.

“The fundamental problem is the lack of waste storage space for some businesses which necessitates the bins being stored on the Parade.

“Irrespective of who is asked to collect this waste, PCC or any private contractor, the same issues will exist i.e. lack of waste storage space within the curtilage of the business premises. In our opinion this not an issue for the Waste Department and cannot comment further,” he added.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown asked for the matter to be taken higher after being less than impressed with Mr. Watkins’ response.

“It’s his job for goodness sake!” she said, with her colleague Clr. Blackhall agreeing.

“The simple position is, we have said time and time again, we do not want things on the South Parade from PCC, businesses, or any other organisation - otherwise what’s to stop any flat backing onto the town walls stating that they too want a bin there!

Clr. Blackhall said that he believed that PCC were opening themselves up to having a high line of blue bins stretched all along the South Parade if they continued this stance.

“We cannot be clearer - we want them moved. I know it is a nuisance, but if they have no storage on site, then they have to do what others do, take the waste bags home, and get them collected - so there are solutions. If they can’t adhere to this, then a licence for such a business should not be granted. They are cluttering up a public highway. It is unacceptable and we should write to PCC’s chief executive on the matter.

Clr. Trevor Hallett said that the issue was a ‘damn disgrace’ whilst the Mayor, Clr. Tony Brown remarked that matters along the South Parade and other parts of the town concerning rubbish being left out at inappropriate times was getting out of hand.

“Public footpaths are being blocked, whilst last Tuesday a box full of glass bottles was just dumped on the South Parade,” he said.

“Cardboard boxes are being left on the corner - which can just be kicked around or even set fire to! There has got to be something that PCC can do - we don’t want them there and we shouldn’t have to put up with it!

“We definitely need to write to someone higher, as Mr. Harries and Mr. Watkins don’t seem to want to know!” continued the Mayor.

Clr. Paul Rapi complained that some businesses around the Upper Frog Street area were now just leaving palettes out.

“They’re not even attempting to tidy up after themselves now - it’s just laziness,” he said.

The town clerk read out a comment that had been submitted on the Observer’s Facebook page on the matter from a business owner in the town which requested that the town council ‘do more to support’ local businesses who are ‘overwhelmed with waste’ during high season.

They stated that the trade waste collection service offered by PCC was ‘inadequate’ and taking waste offsite everyday was not a solution everyone could work with, and that they did not want to put ‘smelly bags and food waste caddies’ in the same car that they use to transport their children around.

It was pointed out in the post that a large strip of unused space down the side of the De Valence would be ideal for the placing of a few large bins for businesses, that would keep the waste out of sight until collection day.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown explained that the alleyway by the De Valence could not be used for this purpose as it led to a fire exit. She also pointed out that by the time the premises had put its rubbish out for collection, come Monday morning it was ‘choc-a-bloc’ due to other people putting their rubbish there as well.

“Perhaps we need to start looking at the CCTV cameras more often, to show who the culprits are,” suggested Clr. Rapi.

Clr. Blackhall said that businesses looking for a solution to take their waste off site daily, were quite welcome to collect a green bin from the town council offices.

“These bins do not spill and do not smell, and are washable. They can be put in the boot of your car for people needing to carry their waste off site every day,” he continued.

Clr. Rapi said that the town council had previously suggested that PCC look into carrying out late collections on Sunday nights to alleviate such problems.

“Surely this would make sense and solve a lot of issues,” he added.