Blind Perth woman fears bin obstacle course

Jul 6 2010 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

WHEELIE bins and bags of waste littering a Perth street are creating a hazardous obstacle course for a blind resident.

The potential danger in Ballantine Place for Ronnie Sutherland – now reluctant to leave her home – is compounded by drivers forced to reverse as they are unable to turn on the narrow dead-end street, due to illegally parked cars.

“Ronnie’s blind and now more or less housebound due to all the bins and rubbish bags,” explained her partner, Trisha Fleming.

“Walking down the pavement, Ronnie often has to step onto the street to avoid these obstacles, which flusters her and her guide dog, April, so it’s just not fair.

“And due to all these cars double or even triple parked at the end of our street, she’s also got to negotiate drivers reversing up the street.

“I often have no choice but to reverse my car up the street myself, and illegally onto the busy Dunkeld Road.”

Ms Fleming, who has taken the issues up with local councillor Elspeth Maclachlan and Perth and Kinross Council (PKC), said if she and Ronnie were not locked into a five-year lease, they would leave.

She said the bin issue was sparked by PKC’s new waste and recycling bin collection schedule – alternate collection weeks – with some residents leaving both bins out, putting waste in recycling bins or dumping bags.

Ms Fleming also claimed that PKC parking officers had told her that they could not book the illegally-parked vehicles as the yellow line road markings were not regulation size.

“It’s really an absolute nightmare,” she said.

A PKC spokesman told the PA the council had been striving to resolve the bins issue, asking all residents via letter to adhere to the new system and present their waste and recycling bins appropriately.

He said properties had ample space to safely store both wheelie bins and that all households had sufficient bin capacity to ensure bins did not overflow if blue lidded recycling bins were properly used.

“We have also carried out door-to-door visits and individual household bins have also been stickered,” he said.

“Where there have been instances of loose bags being left on the pavement, we have tried to identify the householder responsible.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and take action as required.”

As for the illegal parking issue, he said parking officers had been told to be more proactive and that existing yellow lines had been re-painted and extended to satisfy exact PKC road traffic order requirements.

“It is hoped that this will dissuade inconsiderate parking within the road when parking attendants are not in that particular area,” he said.

Ms Sutherland said she hoped the situation would improve swiftly, adding that she was an independent person who liked to get out and about with her guide dog.

“I really can’t get out as much as I’d like to at the moment, and go for a walk or a swim,” she said.

“It’s not a pretty smell on the street and it is like an obstacle course; it’s dangerous, not just for me, but also for the little kids who live on the street.”

Contact PKC’s customer service centre for information about waste and recycling collection on 01739 476 476.