UP TO 12,000 more homes throughout Hyndburn are to get wheelie bins by the end of next month.

The council plans to distribute the bins to terraced properties over the summer and meetings have been held with residents to discuss what the scheme will involve.

The bins were first introduced to hundreds of homes in early 2003 and it is hoped that every property will be using them by next year.

But some people have already expressed their concerns about the scheme.

At a special meeting in Church, residents said that the layout of the streets meant that the area wasn't suitable for wheelie bin collections.

They said that access to back alleys was often restricted and that many homes had steep steps at the front - making it difficult to drag heavy bins down them.

They also criticised the fortnightly collection rota - which alternates with the recycling collection service - and said that large families would be badly affected.

Barbara Cliffe, secretary of the Church Central Residents' Association, said that around 30 people turned up to the meeting, at which Hyndburn Council officer Alison Howard explained the scheme.

She added: "We think it is going to cause a lot of problems, especially as there are a lot of elderly and disabled people living in this area."

"A lot of people will have problems with access and the fortnightly collection is a major issue for us, especially as you can't put any excess rubbish out next to the bin."

"We shouldn't be expected to wheel these bins all over the place."

"The meeting got quite heated and I don't think many people are happy about it. But we know that it is going to happen and it was useful to know what to expect."

Councillor Ann Scaife, portfolio holder for cleansing, said that anyone who had difficulties moving their bins would be able to ask for help from Hyndburn Council.

She added that the fortnightly collection worked when people used the recycling scheme properly for items such as paper, cardboard and cans.

She said: "We know that people are going to be worried about it and we're bound to come across problems. We do take the residents' concerns on board."

"But we have got to become responsible for our own rubbish and wheelie bins WILL be introduced. People will eventually come around to it and see how important it is."

Councillor Scaife added that an officer from the council would be visiting residents in Church again to discuss the concerns raised at the meeting.

  • Hyndburn Council officers have agreed to look into an alternative delivery date for wheelie bins in Oswaldtwistle after complaints from residents.

The bins were due to be delivered on 23 August but members of the town's area council said that this coincided with the Bank Holiday. They warned that burglars would be able to tell if the occupants were away because their bins would be left in the street all weekend.