More developments, regarding the collection of refuse from the Kennet and Avon Canal compound at Bathampton.
If you remember, l received an email from a group of boaters who ‘are furious at being left with no bins as the Canal and River Trust is apparently refusing to collect refuse in Bathampton!’
Preferring to remain anonymous, the sender of this email said: ‘There seems to be a war between government and the CRT after the government cut CRT funding, and boaters are caught in the middle with no way to dispose of their rubbish (at the same time as their licence fees increase).
Fly tippers it seems are being blamed for abusing the site and the local authority is said to be taking action against the CRT for neglecting to resolve the issue (e.g. building roof on compound and making the site accessible to key / coded locks for service users, or to rebuild further from the road. To their credit, CRT had resolved rat infestation months ago).
There was, eventually, a joint statement issued by the Canal and River Trust and Bath and North East Somerset Council.
“Both the Canal & River Trust and Bath & North East Somerset Council are working together to try and resolve this issue which has to balance the needs of boaters, the Bathampton community and the environment.
“The Trust is responsible for the management of the bins which are on council-owned land. Sadly the site has become a regular target for fly-tipping and other vandalism.
The Trust is looking at alternative solutions including improvements to increase capacity and security at the nearby Dundas refuse facility.”
Now l return from holiday to receive an updated email from the CRT, which re ads as follows:
“We were disappointed by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s instruction for us to close the bin store at Bathampton on the Kennet & Avon Canal.
“After working hard to communicate with the Council about their decision, they have now agreed to a meeting at the end of April to discuss the future of the bin store.
“We are continuing to empty the facility and it will remain open for boaters until the meeting at the end of the month.
“Our customers remain our priority and we are doing all we can to remedy the situation while also identifying nearby alternative sites with suitable access.”
I will keep an eye on that one.
