Lead Councillor for Environment ‘shocked’ at ‘unsightly’ bins in town centre

Wrexham Council have said letters have gone to identified premises in the town centre asking them to ensure their bins are cleaned, locked and that no waste is left in bags as side waste.

It also identifies that the problem is now encouraging vermin to the areas – an issue in other areas of the town centre.

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said, “I went to several areas in the town centre recently and was shocked at how unsightly many of the public areas where bins are stored looked.”

“Most of the bins I saw were on the public highway and were overflowing. There was also a lot of side waste waiting to be taken away often by town centre environment officers which means valuable time and cost to us.

“Everyone in all areas of Wrexham has a duty of care to make sure they dispose of their rubbish correctly and we regularly remind householders of this. It’s now only fair that commercial operators and town centre tenants are also asked to do the same particularly where problems have been identified.

“We are really trying hard ensure the town centre remains clean and tidy and this will only be achieved if we all work together to make sure everywhere is clean and tidy at all times.

“I hope the situation will be resolved quickly and that everyone plays their part in keeping Wrexham tidy.”

As part of a release detailing the above, the council have also published a recent picture of the bin issue on Yorke Street in 2021, a problem that is not new.

In 2019 we wrote about town centre improvements that were due to help the Yorke St area pictured above, at the time we reported on council proposals “…for the Yorke Street area include creating a secure area for the collection of the bins and better management of the for the collection of bins on Temple Row”.

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Councillor for the Environment on Wrexham Council

Also in 2019 we noted a photo op with members of the Executive Board , and put the situation in Yorke Street as it was (and still is now) to the council leadership, the below is from our report back then:

We also highlighted the regular congregation of bins near to a vista of Grade 1 listed wonder of Wales St Giles’ Parish Church as pictured at the top of this article, which is also across the road from a recent sizeable investment into Wrexham town centre by the team behind the Fat Boar, and asked if Wrexham Council could do more to improve the ‘situation’ in the conservation area.

Mr Bancroft added: “One of the points about bringing the Town Centre Conservation Plan is to say ‘what are the things we can do to make sure the town centre is kept in line with the conservation plan as it needs to be?’ That is one of the points of bringing the plan forward.”

“What within our current remit and powers can we work with other stakeholders to make sure the town centre is as attractive as possible, in line with the principles we should have in a conservation area.

“It also brings us on to the recent debate on the town centre and it’s masterplanning, and there is a feeling that over the next twelve months we should be revisiting the masterplan.”

Cllr Pritchard added: “We have to play our own part, but also the private sector does too.”

Over 1,000 days later from the above quotes, it appears action being taken to resolve the issue.