A 6st pensioner has been told her rubbish won't be collected - because health and safety rules prevent her burly binmen from lifting her bin over a 4in step.
Priscilla Thomas, 76, who is just 5ft, is expected to put the wheelie bin out herself - but fears she is so frail she will lose control of it.
She said her rubbish had only been occasionally collected since September and was left to pile up outside her home in Elizabeth Avenue, Hove.
She said: "It's bureaucracy gone out of control."
The problem got so bad that Mrs Thomas has resorted to taking the bags to the tip herself in the back of her car.
When she confronted the bin men to ask why her rubbish was not being removed, she was astounded to hear that the tiny step was deemed a health and safety hazard and they were not allowed to pull the bin down it.
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Incensed that the refuse collectors were not deemed fit enough to lift the bin even though she was, Mrs Thomas registered for Brighton and Hove City Council's assisted collection service in the hope it would solve the problem.
But her bins are still not being taken, despite numerous calls to the council's refuse department.
She said: "I live on a hill and if I try to roll the bin out into the street for them to collect, it might overbalance and spill rubbish everywhere.
"Also, leaving it on the pavement creates an obstacle for pedestrians, especially those with pushchairs and wheelchairs and for blind people.
"I rang the council's refuse department again and again. They sympathised with me but still nothing was done.
"Last Tuesday, despite me leaving the bin right in front of my gate which I left open, the bins were not collected again.
"What more can I do?"
Mrs Thomas said the situation has left her feeling as if she is banging her head against a brick wall.
She said: "My neighbour has the same type of step and his bin gets collected, so why doesn't mine?"
A council spokeswoman said: "We apologise for the problems that have unfortunately occurred with Mrs Thomas' refuse collection and the inconvenience this has caused her."
A council manager visited Mrs Thomas yesterday (Mon) and assured her the problem would be repeated.
Jim Baker, director of Age Concern, Brighton, Hove and Portslade, said: "Clearly we are concerned if people are suffering from mobility problems and can't complete physical tasks themselves and therefore need more help from the council but that is not being delivered.
"We would want to help those people ask that they call our information service so that we can speak to the council or whoever the problem is with on their behalf.
"I am pleased if this is being resolved by the council but if it happens again or if it happens to anyone else, they should call us."
Mr Baker said Age Concern had not received any complaints about bin collections in his area.
Free help and advice on a range of issues is available to the elderly by calling Age Concern on 0800 00 99 66.
Posted by: Dave, Fishersgate on 4:09pm Mon 17 Dec 07
[quote]A council manager visited Mrs Thomas yesterday (Mon) and assured her the problem would be repeated.[/quote]
Well done Mr Baker. This is the sort of honesty we seldom hear from a typical b*llshitting politician.
A council manager visited Mrs Thomas yesterday (Mon) and assured her the problem would be repeated.
Well done Mr Baker. This is the sort of honesty we seldom hear from a typical b*llshitting politician.
Posted by: Gino, Portslade on 4:24pm Mon 17 Dec 07
If her neighbour gets his bins collected despite having a similar step, it sounds more to me like the binmen just made up whatever excuse they could think of on the spur of the moment. I doubt they are all out with their measuring tags going "Ooh, better not lift this one, lads, that step's 5.5 inches, and this one's 6. Rules are rules."
If her neighbour gets his bins collected despite having a similar step, it sounds more to me like the binmen just made up whatever excuse they could think of on the spur of the moment. I doubt they are all out with their measuring tags going "Ooh, better not lift this one, lads, that step's 5.5 inches, and this one's 6. Rules are rules."
how nasty cant even help an old lady at cristmas ibet if she had worked them a score they would of soon done it sheme on you all you wont have no luck.
how nasty cant even help an old lady at cristmas ibet if she had worked them a score they would of soon done it sheme on you all you wont have no luck.
Posted by: Disgusted, Brighton on 5:27am Tue 18 Dec 07
Typical of our wonderful council and
their bolshie binmen.
Who is the Council Manager who visited the lady? His IQ is obviously even less than George Bush (if such a thing is possible) & as for the
"binmen" the only thing they are interested in is getting back to the depot as quickly as possible to start their other jobs - greedy uncaring idiots
Typical of our wonderful council and
their bolshie binmen.
Who is the Council Manager who visited the lady? His IQ is obviously even less than George Bush (if such a thing is possible) & as for the
"binmen" the only thing they are interested in is getting back to the depot as quickly as possible to start their other jobs - greedy uncaring idiots
Posted by: graham, portslade on 7:39am Tue 18 Dec 07
It really comes down to the bin men being far too nasty to even consider helping a frail old girl, which is really what it is all about. I hope these bin men hang their heads in shame and hope that if their frail relatives need help, whoever they ask won't be as moronic.
It really comes down to the bin men being far too nasty to even consider helping a frail old girl, which is really what it is all about. I hope these bin men hang their heads in shame and hope that if their frail relatives need help, whoever they ask won't be as moronic.
"A council manager visited Mrs Thomas yesterday (Mon) and assured her the problem would be repeated."
He's obviously been working with the Council long enough to know how things REALLY work with the Council... as opposed to the fictionalised, spun version that the Council's chiefs would have us all believe, and which they, and they only, actually believe.
Elf 'n' safety has become a charter for jobsworths who want to make the minimum of effort.
Good luck Mrs Thomas - you're going to need it when dealing with B&HCC!
"A council manager visited Mrs Thomas yesterday (Mon) and assured her the problem would be repeated."
He's obviously been working with the Council long enough to know how things REALLY work with the Council... as opposed to the fictionalised, spun version that the Council's chiefs would have us all believe, and which they, and they only, actually believe.
Elf 'n' safety has become a charter for jobsworths who want to make the minimum of effort.
Good luck Mrs Thomas - you're going to need it when dealing with B&HCC!
Posted by: Dave, Wivelsfield on 9:30am Tue 18 Dec 07
And no doubt these binmen will chuck rubbish all over the street if they don't get a Christmas box from this little old lady.
Get on with your job you lazy p******s.
And no doubt these binmen will chuck rubbish all over the street if they don't get a Christmas box from this little old lady.
Posted by: wayne452, Hove, Sussex. on 9:43am Tue 18 Dec 07
I put out a black bin liner as well as the wheely bin and they refused to take the extra bag saying it was council rule no xmas box for them this year!!!
I put out a black bin liner as well as the wheely bin and they refused to take the extra bag saying it was council rule no xmas box for them this year!!!
Posted by: Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square on 10:42am Tue 18 Dec 07
What an effete bunch, Brighton's dustbinmen are.
The poor loves, defeated by a step there donkeys' years.
We would have been overrun by Germany if this wimpish bunch had played any part in the Second World War. "No, I can't climb over this sandbag, it's too high - come on in, Herr Hitler, make yourself at home, would like a cup of tea?"
These dustbinmen should be sent to landfill straightaway.
What an effete bunch, Brighton's dustbinmen are.
The poor loves, defeated by a step there donkeys' years.
We would have been overrun by Germany if this wimpish bunch had played any part in the Second World War. "No, I can't climb over this sandbag, it's too high - come on in, Herr Hitler, make yourself at home, would like a cup of tea?"
These dustbinmen should be sent to landfill straightaway.
if they are not taking your rubbish ask the council how much of the council tax you should refuse to pay
if you are paying the council tax they should be taking your rubbish away so get in touch and ask how much it is to have them charge you for taking it away and refuse to pay the amount they charge and let them take you to court and tell the court why you have not payed it then they will be on your side.
if that was happening to me i would tell them where to shove my council tax bill
WHERE THE SUN DON,T SHINE
if they are not taking your rubbish ask the council how much of the council tax you should refuse to pay
if you are paying the council tax they should be taking your rubbish away so get in touch and ask how much it is to have them charge you for taking it away and refuse to pay the amount they charge and let them take you to court and tell the court why you have not payed it then they will be on your side.
if that was happening to me i would tell them where to shove my council tax bill
Posted by: Not Sue, Not Hove on 10:52am Tue 18 Dec 07
[quote][bold]Sue[/bold] wrote:
What horrible binmen - I hope they never need help. Karma will come round.[/quote] What's a chameleon going to do? Lick them to death?
Sue wrote:
What horrible binmen - I hope they never need help. Karma will come round.
What's a chameleon going to do? Lick them to death?
Posted by: Truthsayer, Brighton on 2:20pm Tue 18 Dec 07
This is more an indication of the beaurocracy and red tape which rules our lives these days.
The binmen arent allowed to take extra bin bags or lift bins over steps because of these stupid health and safety rules.
That said, anyone with any decency would have helped this old lady out.
This is more an indication of the beaurocracy and red tape which rules our lives these days.
The binmen arent allowed to take extra bin bags or lift bins over steps because of these stupid health and safety rules.
That said, anyone with any decency would have helped this old lady out.
Posted by: Joseph 15 years old, Brighton on 8:35pm Tue 18 Dec 07
This is typical of the council. All they do is take our tax money and pay "Equality Officers" to point out rediculous things like this. 4 inch step, this is utterly poor. They obviously have no care for the elderly. I am disgusted at the council; an elderly lady who cannot put her bin outside, seems to be less important than binmen's safety in their view. Health and Safety is rubbish, we cant to anything these days! Political Correctness gone mad! I wish the best for Priscilla. Who elects these council people anyway? How can a strong binmen get hurt on a 4 inch step. I think selfishness is the word.
This is typical of the council. All they do is take our tax money and pay "Equality Officers" to point out rediculous things like this. 4 inch step, this is utterly poor. They obviously have no care for the elderly. I am disgusted at the council; an elderly lady who cannot put her bin outside, seems to be less important than binmen's safety in their view. Health and Safety is rubbish, we cant to anything these days! Political Correctness gone mad! I wish the best for Priscilla. Who elects these council people anyway? How can a strong binmen get hurt on a 4 inch step. I think selfishness is the word.
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