Worcestershire News
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Support for people fined by bin police
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| FINED: Lichfield Avenue residents Laura Davies, with her son Ryan, and Patrick and Tracey Seery |
READERS of your Worcester News have backed the people who were fined £100 for failing to use their wheelie bins properly.
As reported in your Worcester News on Saturday, tenants at a block of flats in Ronkswood had been putting their rubbish out in bin bags when the communal wheelie bins became full.
Their actions resulted in a knock on the door from a representative of Worcester Community Housing and a Police Community Service Officer (PCSO), who dished out the £100 fixed penalty notices.
Several readers commented on the story on your Worcester News's website www.worcesternews.co.uk
Most reacted with shock, branding it the action of the "plastic police", others advised the residents to go to court and fight the fine.
Several readers criticised the use of the PCSO to issue the notices in Lichfield Avenue, Worcester.
"It is highly questionable whether PCSOs should be used for this purpose," said Alan2, of Worcester.
Another reader who is a PCSO, but not in Worcester, said: "PCSOs are not tax collectors, nor should they be used by local authorities as a private police force.
"What a total waste of time and money."
Varien, of Worcester, questioned why the extra bags could not be collected with the wheelie bin. "What is wrong with bin men throwing the plastic bags into the back of the trucks?" he said.
Tenants in the six flats share two black wheelie bins and two green ones, which are collected on alternate weeks.
One reader highlight the two large bins provided for residents are the equivalent of a standard bin each.
John Wylds, of Worcester, wrote: "How can these bins be overflowing unless it is because the tenants are not participating fully in the recycling scheme."
Another blamed the problem on fortnightly collections. "Bring back the old style collection of every week," wrote Sir Smeg, of Worcester.
As well as recommending fighting the fine in court, one reader recommended tenants arrange a meeting with Worcester Community Housing.
"It seems to me if the fine is paid without sorting out the bins for each flat, it will only be a matter of a week or so before another fine lands on their doorstep," wrote Anne Palmer, of Staffordshire.
As reported in your Worcester News, Jean Dalziel, customer services director at WCH, said: "Rubbish being dumped at this location has been a big problem for a while now.
"We had lots of complaints from people about the mess." She promised to look into whether the bins were adequate.
Wheelie bins - what's all the fuss about anyway? Click here.2:21pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: hotfuzz, Stourport on 2:32pm Thu 8 May 08
If those in charge of the PCSO directed him/her to this task - I question their judgement and suitability for the role. It seems a totally inappropriate function for them!
If those in charge of the PCSO directed him/her to this task - I question their judgement and suitability for the role. It seems a totally inappropriate function for them!
Posted by: cvj, Worcester on 2:53pm Thu 8 May 08
If the wheelie bins are getting full between collections then they are too small, insufficient in number or not emptied often enough
Maybe the money collected in fines could be used to provide more or bigger bins!
If the wheelie bins are getting full between collections then they are too small, insufficient in number or not emptied often enough
Maybe the money collected in fines could be used to provide more or bigger bins!
Posted by: chippie, Worcester on 3:37pm Thu 8 May 08
I think the PCSO's time could be better used catching those people who constantly ride on the pavement putting other people's lives at risk.
I think the PCSO's time could be better used catching those people who constantly ride on the pavement putting other people's lives at risk.
Posted by: Alan2, Worcester on 3:56pm Thu 8 May 08
Let's not beat about the bush here, hotfuzz is right. This is an outrage for a PCSO to be used for this purpose. The specific PCSO should be named and shamed and, if he/she pleads that they were ordered to do it, so should the supervising officer. Both in my view have exceeded their duty and never again must the Council have the audacity to ask for them to be used for this purpose again. A downright liberty which raises the question - again as hotfuzz say's, as to their suitability for the job. They should be sacked.
Let's not beat about the bush here, hotfuzz is right. This is an outrage for a PCSO to be used for this purpose. The specific PCSO should be named and shamed and, if he/she pleads that they were ordered to do it, so should the supervising officer. Both in my view have exceeded their duty and never again must the Council have the audacity to ask for them to be used for this purpose again. A downright liberty which raises the question - again as hotfuzz say's, as to their suitability for the job. They should be sacked.
Posted by: hotfuzz, Stourport on 4:01pm Thu 8 May 08
Alan2 - thanks for your support - but please note - I am in no way suggesting that anyone should be sacked - I am merely questioning their judgement.
Alan2 - thanks for your support - but please note - I am in no way suggesting that anyone should be sacked - I am merely questioning their judgement.
Posted by: Alan2, Worcester on 5:31pm Thu 8 May 08
No, I appreciate that hotfuzz, I personally believe that the action of the PCSO was so fundamentally wrong and the judgement that brought it about was so flawed that someone should be sacked or severely disciplined at the very least. After all, these people are not there to do the work of the Council and commonsence should have told those concerned that this was the case.
No, I appreciate that hotfuzz, I personally believe that the action of the PCSO was so fundamentally wrong and the judgement that brought it about was so flawed that someone should be sacked or severely disciplined at the very least. After all, these people are not there to do the work of the Council and commonsence should have told those concerned that this was the case.
Posted by: Logik, worcester on 6:02pm Thu 8 May 08
Since when did common-sense get in the way of tin-pot officials out to make a fast buck. It is the 'fining culture' that Nu-Labour has been obsessed with that is the problem, nothing more than a feeble excuse for a money-grab.
WCH say they will look into the problem to see if the bins are adequate. Well it's a bit of a pity that they did not do this first before dragging out 'plastic plod' to issue fines. (...or should that be 'penalty' as on the spot 'fines' are unlawful under our BOR).
The moral of the story, never let common-sense get in the way of making money - Kerching!!!
Since when did common-sense get in the way of tin-pot officials out to make a fast buck. It is the 'fining culture' that Nu-Labour has been obsessed with that is the problem, nothing more than a feeble excuse for a money-grab.
WCH say they will look into the problem to see if the bins are adequate. Well it's a bit of a pity that they did not do this first before dragging out 'plastic plod' to issue fines. (...or should that be 'penalty' as on the spot 'fines' are unlawful under our BOR).
The moral of the story, never let common-sense get in the way of making money - Kerching!!!
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