Civic trust asking for photographs
Positive views on bins also welcome
AN exhibition of photographs of giant wheelie bins is to be staged in the Capital as part of a "summit" exploring their impact on the city.
City chiefs and residents
have been invited to the event in August which has been organised by the Capital’s civic trust, the Cockburn Association.
The gathering will discuss the council’s controversial programme to replace troublesome black rubbish bags with the giant bins, which have been branded ugly and over-sized.
The exhibition of photos, which the Cockburn Association is asking residents to send to them, will be used to kick-start the debate.
Today David McDonald, director of the Cockburn Association, said: "Keeping the city beautiful is what we do. To many citizens the over-sized bins are eyesores and infringe on the amenity of their streets and communities. Others claim the bins improve cleanliness.
"We are sending out invitations to city councillors and officials this week as well as to our members. We hope the event will be well attended by both city officials and local citizens.
"The objective is to raise further awareness of local concerns for the containers. I would like to emphasise that individuals who are positive to the bins are equally welcome to express their views.
"The Cockburn Association is inviting communities in Edinburgh to submit photographic evidence of the effects, positive or negative, of wheelie bins on their streets."
Mr McDonald said the photographs would be exhibited at the wheelie-bin summit while there would also be a question and answer session. A venue and date have yet to be decided.
Those attending the wheelie-bin summit are expected to discuss alternative methods of waste disposal such as continental-style underground containers, which have been proposed by developers for new housing schemes in the north of the city.
Edinburgh City Council is currently carrying out a 16-week trial of the giant bins in the historic heart of the Capital, the World Heritage Site, after introducing them to other parts of the city.
The bins have proved highly controversial with residents’ associations in the New Town having written to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which designates World Heritage Sites, asking them to help block the spread of the big bins.
The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust welcomed the attempt to spark debate about the bins
A Trust spokeswoman said: "We are heavily involved in the environmental impact assessment of the trial. We are pleased that there is a public forum being held which will allow the opportunity for informed debate on the issues.
Councillor Bob Cairns, the city’s environment and consumer services leader, added: "I think people have found that once wheelie bins are in, they are very supportive even in the New Town."
In April, council workers came face-to-face with protesters as they attempted to put out the 89 6ft-long bins for the trial.
Among the streets involved in the trial 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. The council was forced to suspend plans for the trial last August after it was threatened with legal action by a number of lawyers who live in the New Town, because officials had not sought planning permission for the move.
The Scottish Executive eventually had to rule on the plans because the council could not have the final say on its own scheme, with ministers giving the trial the go-ahead.
The council won the support of the Executive after pledging to conduct independent environmental impact studies both during and after the trial.
Queen Margaret University College and Keep Scotland Beautiful have been commissioned to conduct research projects, while the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust will carry out its own photographic survey during the trials.
