Tower block residents are campaigning for a housing association to reverse its decision to seal off the bin chutes in three of its buildings.

Golding Homes wants to shut the facilities at Midhurst Court in Mote Road, Sunningdale Court in Square Hill Road and College Court in Hayle Road to encourage recycling and prevent blockages. There have also been reports of homeless people sleeping in them.

But Dawn Harris, from 13-storey Midhurst Court, has begun a Save Our Chutes petition with help from neighbour Jill Ducker which has been signed by more than half of the residents of the 76-flat block.

The 52-year-old, who lives on the top floor, said: “This will lead to more rubbish being left outside people’s doors and leave more work for the cleaners.

“It will be particularly inconvenient for people with disabilities or young children as they will have to travel all the way down to the bins now.

“We do have lifts but they often break down and the alternative is to walk down as many as 150 steps.

“I have cancer so walking down the stairs causes me difficulties.”

She added: “I don’t think the reasons given for shutting them are valid. We live here and they don’t. They don’t realise how hard it will be for people living on the top floor.”

Sunningdale Court has 14 storeys, while College Court has eight.

Events were held at each of the blocks this week by Golding Homes and Maidstone council to answer questions about the policy.

The council’s aim is for households in the borough to recycle 50% of their waste.

Last year flats with sufficient storage were moved from weekly to fortnightly bin collections to bring them in line with houses. The move led to complaints of piling mounds of rubbish sacks.

The three Golding Homes blocks currently have weekly collections.

A Golding Homes spokesman said: “There haven’t been any recycling facilities available in the large tower blocks until now. We are cleaning and closing the bin chutes, and making the bin area into a secure and easy to use recycling facility. We hope this will help improve the cleanliness of the whole building, reduce odour and dumped waste, and improve security in the block.”