Wheelie bin trial meets resistance

Published on Wednesday 28 April 2004 01:00

THE launch of a controversial trial of giant wheelie bins in the city’s world heritage site has met with angry resistance from local residents.

Council workers came face-to-face with protesters as they attempted to put out the 89 6ft-long bins yesterday.

In Regent Terrace there was a stand-off between the council and residents over the siting of the bins, which will be tried for the next 16 weeks.

Among the streets affected are Carlton Terrace, Heriot Row and Fettes Row in the New Town, and the Canongate, St Mary’s Street and Cranston Street in the Old Town.

New Town councillor David Guest said: "It is a shambles. These bins are crass and incongruous. We don’t need a trial to find out that they are not going to work."

Residents’ associations of the New Town have written to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), which designates such heritage sites, seeking its intervention.

A spokesman for the city council said: "Containers have been successful throughout the city in reducing litter and improving the cleanliness of the streets."