War Of Words Over Homefields Rec Litter Bins

Council and John Todd clash over 'removal' of litter bins

Hounslow Council has clashed with Chiswick Cllr John Todd over the issue of litter bins in Homefields Rec north.

The Council says there have been no litter bins removed from the north side of Homefields Rec in recent years, while Cllr Todd and local residents say they can prove the Council is wrong.

Residents have turned to satellite imagery to prove the point. Cllr Todd wrote to Cllr Gupta, lead member on the environment, last week and said he believed he had been misled and that the Google Earth website would prove a number of bins had been removed.

The three missing bins were located as follows; One by the gate at the southern end of Chiswick lane. There is a bald patch in the grass which shows the site. One at the other end of the park next to the path near the large tree - for both bins - Google reference https://goo.gl/maps/n6DE2  The third bin was located half way along the path at the rear of the nursery block northern end. The base is still there https://goo.gl/maps/Rbqhk   

The problem first arose when locals reported that Carillion had removed ageing litter bins from the park which were not replaced. They said it had led to a problem with rubbish in the larger field of the rec.

The Council pointed out that recreation ground has three litter bins inside the playground at the front of the rec near Chiswick Lane, and a litter bin near the entrance, but local people had complained about a lack of bins around the perimeter where people walk and jog. There are a number of bins for dog waste but people are not allowed to put litter in them. LBH denied that bins had ever been removed from the north Homefields Rec, a claim that was disputed by local people.

The Council agreed last week it would move one litter bin from the playground, and site it within the main part of the field. It is understood that Cllr Gupta has agreed to take a look at the issue again next week.

A typical litter bin

A local resident commented; "It is not true of the Council to say they did not remove any bins, as there have been two removed in recent years, one of them only a month or two back." He said that quite a few residents and dog walkers would testify to it and a reference had been made to removal in an email he received from Carillion services.

Residents are hoping the matter will finally be resolved as it appears funding has been agreed from S106 funds.

Cllr Todd said it was surprising how much LBH time had been spent rebutting the claims of regular members of the park, whose sole desire was to see it kept clean, tidy and free from waste.

January 15 , 2015