Communal bins could help keep Henwick Road tidy

That’s the view of a man hoping to be the next county councillor for the area.

Bertie Ballinger has been litter picking around St John’s and has an idea he says could help clean up Henwick Road.

Mr Ballinger, who has recently been selected as the Conservative candidate for St John’s in the upcoming county council elections, said: “I have been actively engaging with the community, and one issue that repeatedly comes up is the commercial bins on Henwick Road.

TIDY: Bertie Ballinger has been litter picking around St John's (Image: Bertie Ballinger)

“Residents who pass by these bins regularly express concerns about their unpleasant smell and unsightly appearance, saying it reflects poorly on St John’s.

“This issue has been ongoing since at least 2019, when the bins were moved from Bush Walk and recently, Councillor Richard Udall has been addressing the matter with fines and enforcement.

“While it’s encouraging to see such active involvement from our local representatives, I believe there are additional solutions that should be considered, solutions that Cllr Udall may be better positioned to pursue.”

MESSY: The bins in Henwick Road are often overflowing (Image: Richard Udall)

READ MORE: Action being taken over 'smelly' bins in Henwick Road

Worcester City Council has confirmed that enforcement action is being taken over the bins in Henwick Road.

“This month, I’ve been out litter-picking in St John’s, focusing on roads that often get overlooked,” said Mr Ballinger.

“One such road, Lapal Close, has a large residential bin storage area that is well-maintained and didn’t require any litter picking.

SOLUTION: Mr Ballinger thinks the bins in Lapal Close should be replicated in Henwick Road (Image: Bertie Ballinger)

“This approach could serve as a model for Henwick Road. Instead of asking businesses to move the bins, something they’ve already done once, support should be offered to help them manage waste more effectively.

“I’m not suggesting that the city or county council should bear the entire cost, as these are private businesses, but a collaborative plan could be developed to assist them.

“The path where the bins are currently located is quite wide and can easily accommodate the bins.

“With the addition of simple cladding to 'hide' them from view, similar to what has been done on Lapal Close, combined with continued enforcement, this could help the area remain clean while giving businesses a proper waste management solution.”