VICTORIA AVENUE parents fear that a build-up of household refuse is a danger to their children’s health. Some mothers claim that health hazards on the estate have already led to youngsters contracting impetigo and they are worried others will pick up diseases.
Rats and glass are plaguing residents who fear the refuse problem has spiralled out of control.
Gulls have been attacking refuse sacks and cats have been at their filthy contents, including dirty nappies.
Concerned estate residents have launched a 40-strong petition but they claim no action is being taken.
They are calling for wheelie bins to be installed in the area permanently - some people are not putting rubbish out on bin nights and keeping them inside causes blocks of homes to stink.
‘It seems to be accumulating more and I found a kid eating sweets off the floor that had come from a rubbish sack. I don’t think Environmental Health would be too chuffed if they saw the dirty nappies around,’ said concerned father Carl Perkins, 33.
‘It could be dodgy for the children and rubbish can accumulate all sorts of germs. If they want people to recycle they will have to spend some money to sort these problems out and we need some recycling bins here urgently because the nearest is at Checkers,’ he said.
‘All these flats are for single mothers and I’m worried about disease,’ said mother-of-two Lisa Le Prevost, 25.
‘We have gone to the States and health visitors and they said they were not prepared to spend any more money here,’ she said.
‘I think we need wheelie bins and some of the areas fenced off. It’s disgusting and I’m worried about the kids. I was going to phone Environmental Health today about a rat.’
Another mother, 24, who asked to be referred to as Zoe H, said: ‘It’s really bad and it’s getting worse.
‘The bin men have scratched cars and have left rubbish around because there are holes caused by the gulls.
‘Some children have got impetigo from the germs from the rubbish. And some children could get seriously ill if something is not done urgently,’ she said.
Another mother said: ‘It’s disheartening that nobody seems to care.’
Signs have been installed in hallways warning residents about rubbish.
Although Environmental Health has not had any direct complaints for some time and has not viewed the current situation, there are obvious concerns if household waste is left around and is liable to attract pests or other animals, said a spokesman.
‘Animals and birds can harbour diseases which can be passed on to humans and young children playing in the area would be at most risk,’ he said.
‘It is almost inevitable that families living in flats without proper refuse storage will put it out whenever it becomes a problem to store within the dwelling,’ said the spokesman.
‘The almost universal use of the plastic sack, which is only really suitable as a dustbin liner, offers no protection against attack by animals and will sometimes be damaged by the refuse itself. The use of metal or plastic bins and/or the provision of a proper [lockable] refuse store would help to eliminate some of the problems,’ he said.
St Sampson’s junior constable Peter Gillson said he did not know about the petition but was aware of a call to the constables’ office concerning problems on the estate about two-and-a-half months ago.
He said the situation had been discussed with the Housing Department and the States Tenants’ Action Group.
But, he said, if residents put out only a maximum of two bags each just before the twice-weekly early-morning collections, there would be no problems.
He accepted that some residents found it difficult to know where to put their rubbish.
‘We have concerns that rubbish, if not put out on the right days, is not being collected,’ said Mr Gillson.
But he said the Victoria Avenue residents were treated no differently from anyone else.
‘We have concerns there could be health risks there and have written to residents reminding them when to put rubbish out. Some of it is in the hands of residents and it’s very unfortunate if there are some
people there who put rubbish out on
other nights and too much rubbish,’ he said.
He added that the provision of recycling bins was the responsibility of the Environment Department.
‘Our responsibility is to collect the weekly rubbish and people should consider putting their rubbish out in metal or plastic bins or stronger sacks,’ he said.
Article posted on 2nd August, 2004 - 12.00am
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