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03
Apr 2024
Overflowing bins in Valley Gardens prompt summer fears
A resident has raised concerns about litter in Valley Gardens in Harrogate after bins overflowed at Easter.
North Yorkshire Council has been criticised for its decision to reduce the number of litter bins to save money.
It is spending £478,000 on replacing about 1,500 litter bins in the former Harrogate district with 775 larger bins.
The Stray Ferret has covered the issue extensively, with the council saying in January it would review the policy after complaints.
Eileen Dockray, who took the photos accompanying this article on Sunday morning, raised concerns about the impact of the new approach on Valley Gardens.
She said:
Ms Dockray added she feared the situation would get worse as summer approaches and visitor numbers increase.
A North Yorkshire Council spokesman denied there was a problem. They said:
The spokesperson did not respond to our request for details about the number of bins that have been removed from Valley Gardens.
In 2022, smart bins were trialled in the town as a joint venture between the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire Council.
According to a Harrogate borough councillor at the time, the bins used sensors to send alerts when they need emptying to avoid overflowing. Later the same year Harrogate Borough Council installed six smart bins, costing a total of £26,100, in Valley Gardens.
Last year a May bank holiday gathering required a major clean-up operation the following day.
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