Swiss Cottage resident’s 35 year battle with council over bin continues

Newly elected councillors would do well to remember there can be nothing more irksome for their constituents than seeing problems with their rubbish collection.

For one unfortunate resident in Swiss Cottage, it’s certainly been a momentous struggle.

It’s taken an astonishing 35 years of writing to Camden Council for Elaine Chambers and fellow residents in Winchester Road to be given a container to put their black bin bags in.

For this entire time they had been forced to dump their waste directly on the pavement – no doubt leading others to grumble about fly-tipping.

It was only last month that a large green refuse collector suddenly popped up without warning, leading residents to believe their fight had finally been won.

But Ms Chambers told Heathman they were now having second thoughts.

“I’ve been fighting for this bin since the 1970s,” she said. “It’s been a momentous struggle.

“Now we’ve got one, I’m battling to get the rubbish collected from it. In its first month of life, it’s been emptied just twice. It’s attracting rats.”

Ms Chambers said she was considering telling the council to now remove the bin.

The council said it had “noted the resident’s concern and will be monitoring this location”.