The owner of a new home in Birstwith said he has been left without a wheelie bin for household waste for weeks after moving in.

Sid Evans moved into the West House Gardens development at the beginning of July and discovered there was no wheelie bin with the new home.

He contacted Harrogate Borough Council, but said he was told it would not be possible to deliver a bin for another 12 weeks, in early November.

Mr Evans said:

“That means we aren’t going to have a wheelie bin for over four months.

“According to what I’ve read online, if I reported it damaged or stolen, I would get a new wheelie bin sent out.”

A spokesperson for the council said:

“We would never knowingly leave a new property without a bin. If the resident – and any others that the developer has failed to supply a bin to – gets in touch with our customer services team we will arrange for delivery in the next couple of weeks. Until this time, black bags can be presented for collection.”

Read more:

• Plan for new home to increase council’s social housing in Boroughbridge
• Harrogate district village wins eight-year battle for more planning control

The council said the situation was caused by the developer, Newby, failing to place an order in time:

“It is the developers’ responsibility to arrange and pay for delivery of containers for household waste through the planning phase. We ask developers for a 12-week notice period to allow for production and delivery from the manufacturers, and this should be undertaken in advance of properties being occupied.”

Newby declined to comment on the situation, but the Stray Ferret has seen an email chain which shows bins and recycling boxes and bags for five of the 33 homes were ordered in February.

All of the recycling boxes and bags were delivered, along with two bins, but three bins did not arrive. When Newby chased the remaining bins in July, it was told by the council’s parks and environmental services department that the original order had not been processed and an invoice had never been raised.

The council employee said a new ordering system had been introduced that month and a new order would have to be placed, with a 12-week wait.

Having lived in the Harrogate district for 40 years, Mr Evans said he was frustrated by the situation.

“Whether it’s the builder’s fault or the council’s, I’m not the slightest bit interested.

“I pay council tax and I don’t want to have weeks of waiting for a wheelie bin.”