Residents in an Arbroath street have kicked up a stink about street bins which are being put in front of their homes.
The new bin bays are being installed in Warddykes Avenue following a review by Angus Council which will free up additional parking spaces.
The bins were previously outside a block of flats and resident Blair Rennie said homeowners opposite are unhappy about the switch.
Mr Rennie, 77, a volunteer driver for a charity, said the bins were previously “tucked away” and he is concerned they will become a magnet for seagulls now they are “out in the open”.
He said: “Why are they going to all this expense to move three bins?
“It’s inexplicable that this is being done and there’s been no consideration at all for the local residents.
“They will be an eyesore and will become a feeding ground for seagulls because this location will make it more accessible for them.”
Mr Rennie said residents on his side of the road would have no need to use the new bays as each property has its own bins.
Arbroath West and Letham SNP councillor Brenda Durno has taken up the matter with Angus Council
She said: “I was contacted by Mr Rennie who was anxious about the new bin bays being placed across from the car park in front of his home.
“Mr Blair had seen other bins in the vicinity, which were overloaded with spilling rubbish, and he was concerned about vermin, and the unsightly look of them.
“There is a problem accessing the bins from the flats due to them being down a steep embankment, and that is why they are on the top road.
“As these plans are being implemented at present I have asked the council if it would be possible to camouflage them by an accessible gate or panel which would be more pleasing on the eye, and maybe keep out vermin, with an assurance they would be emptied and any overspills cleared from view.”
An Angus Council spokesman said: “We have been working closely with the community in the Warddykes area of Arbroath so we can all enhance our Pride in Place.
“In 2015 we listened to what residents said was important to them and, as a result, carried out environmental improvements, including taking bins out of the sight line of neighbouring properties.
“We’re pleased to say that this successfully delivered a noticeable reduction in the amount and frequency of fly tipping and dumping of household items.
“At the same time, it freed up more parking spaces for residents and local residents’ complaints reduced dramatically.
“We are following up on this good work and have recently reviewed the current siting of other communal bins that take up space within the car parking areas.
“Given the success of our previous approach, we are now creating recesses within the embankment area behind the car parks to provide more additional parking spaces for residents.
“We firmly believe this will further enhance the area and at the same time reduce the opportunity for fly-tipping.”
