Angry residents of a city close fear their bins are not being emptied because parking bays at the entrance are preventing access by dust carts.

People living in The Hoystings Close in Canterbury have branded the situation “nonsensical” and fired off a petition to the authority demanding a swift solution.

The residents-only bays have been in situ for years but recently, for a reason which is now being investigated, bin lorry drivers appear not to have been able to negotiate the tight turn into the close.

The result has been a succession of missed collections for frustrated residents whose rubbish and recycling has been piling up.

One of those affected is wheelchair user and mum-of-two Isabelle Devani.

She said: “This is a nonsensical situation that is affecting health and wellbeing.

“It makes life much more difficult if the house is cluttered up because I’m in a wheelchair.

“I don’t blame Serco if they can’t get access and am sure it has nothing to do with them just ignoring us or not bothering.”

She believes a solution would be to have the residents’ parking bays, designated for St George’s permit holders, removed.

So does neighbour Estelle Huxtable, who added: “We don’t need them because we have our own parking spaces.

“It would also allow much easier access to not only the bins lorries but emergency and delivery vehicles.”

City council spokesman Rob Davies says the authority is trying to resolve the issue as a matter of priority.

He said: “We’re sorry to hear residents of The Hoystings Close have been having problems with their bin collections.

“This has recently been reported to us and we’re looking at possible options to resolve this issue as a priority.

“These could involve removal of the bays, which would require public consultation, or the use of a smaller refuse vehicle to carry out these collections.”

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