Anger over rubbish left behind on Dudley's Priory estate

Black bags of rubbish have been left strewn across a Black Country estate after a new rule limiting the number binmen allowed to collect was introduced.

Residents are fuming after binmen refused to pick up dozens of sacks on the Priory estate, Dudley.

Families have been restricted to three bags of rubbish per household. Self-employed haulage contractor Nicholas Webb, of Mayfield Road, was left with four full bags yesterday after the first collection since the new rule came into play.

Dudley Councilsays, for one week only, binmen can return to pick up remaining bags. Mr Webb says three bags are not enough and fears rubbish left out in the street could attract rats and other vermin.

The 44-year-old said sacks were left in surrounding streets including Rosewood Road and Linwood Road.

"Everyone is quite angry about this. People with big families are going to produce a lot of rubbish and definitely more than three bags worth," he said.

Vice-chairman of the Priory Tenants and Residents Association, Muriel Russell, of Elm Road, said: "It is disgusting. There is rubbish everywhere. There is a huge pile of bags in Elm Road.

"We're going to be surrounded by rats if this keeps happening every week. I don't see what all this is achieving apart from making a mess."

Castle and Priory ward councillor Alan Finch said: "Residents are not going to put out 10 or 20 bags at a time but if they've got four bags out, I can't see why the binmen can't take them.

"There was not enough consultation on this."

Council leader Councillor Anne Millward criticised complaints, saying: "It's an absolute disgrace, we have five of us in my house and we fill half a bag a week.

"I have always recycled whatever I can — clothes, shoes, plastic, glass, cardboard, paper. I do think it's about time people wake up and smell the beer.

"We have got to start thinking about recycling."