SOUTH Hams Coun­cil’s new wheelie bin system is rubbish, say Dartmouth town councillors.

Changes to waste collections and the introduction of new plastic bins has caused considerable upset, Cllr Tessa de Galleani told last week’s meeting of the town council’s general purposes committee.

‘They seemed to have turned the town into a bit of an eyesore,’ she said. ‘Visitors think it is looking awful. We have to do something.’

Householders had not been asked if they needed a bin and nine properties at Swan Court in Victoria Road had 18 bins outside and the rubbish around Broadstone at the moment was ‘appall­ing’, the meeting was told. ‘It’s a complete mess,’ said Cllr de Galleani.

‘I would like someone from South Hams Council to come and walk the streets with us and we can show them.

‘They might like to see where Dartmouth is because at present I don’t think they know.’

Cllr Brian Harriss said: ‘You only have to go outside to see bins all the way up the street.’

Cllr Les Barnes called on the district council to reassess the situation. ‘The pavements in Dartmouth are just not wide enough and people are having to walk in the road because of these bins,’ he said.

Cllr Gina Coles said it was ruining the street scene and empty bins could pose a danger if they blew over in the road.

Mayor Cllr Rob Lyon said it seemed bizarre that the district council was trying to clamp down on business advertising boards in the streets but was quite happy to have wheelie bins.

The committee recommended asking South Hams Council to come and view the wheelie bins.

A spokesman for South Hams Council said: ‘Changes to a limited number of recycling and waste collections have taken place across the South Hams district to allow more households to recycle and provide a more cost-effective service for residents.

‘A number of households in Dartmouth who were unable to recycle will now be able to join the normal district-wide recycling and waste collection service.

‘We have considered each property on a case by case basis before making the changes and the majority recognise that the change has brought improvements.

‘However, any resident wanting to appeal a decision can contact us.’