THE row over wheelie bins in the New Town has intensified after residents claimed binmen failed to collect rubbish because the street was "too slippy".
Workers arrived at Carlton Terrace Mews yesterday morning, but went away without collecting any refuse.
Residents claim the binmen said the street was too slippy to bring the truck up, and they could not wheel bins along the narrow street to the
lorry because it was against health and safety rules.
The council says access to the mews was blocked by a van.
Controversy is already raging after black bags were replaced with green wheelie bins, which residents say have blighted their picturesque street.
The binmen collected the rubbish later yesterday after a complaint was made to the city's environmental services department.
But residents fear problems with rubbish collection will escalate because of the wheelie bins.
Resident Dorothy Greene said: "It's potentially going to be slippy every week, so does this mean that we're not going to have them emptied all winter?"
And she disputed the council's claim that a van had been in the way of the bin lorry. "Obviously we've got to get in and out in the morning so I can't see how there would be a van blocking it. There's no way access to the mews could be blocked and I can't think of any occasion that this has been the case. That's just rubbish."
Residents argue that under the old bin bag collection system there would not have been a problem removing rubbish and there would be no blight on the area's World Heritage Site status.
Council workers later returned with a supervisor who ensured binmen pushed the bins 120 metres to their vehicle at the end of the street, but binmen are normally not allowed to carry bin bags due to health and safety regulations.
Residents dislike the new wheelie bins as they have nowhere to store them. One, Douglas Bathgate, said: "We would like to go back to bin bag collection on Mondays and Tuesdays.
"We kept them tidy and they were collected promptly. But now, with the new wheelie bins, everyday is like a rubbish day."
Mr Bathgate, 49, a self-employed businessman, said: "We really are the jewel in the Calton area here. We are the only mews in Edinburgh with a garden in the centre and the first thing you see now is the bins."
Following massive opposition and a controversial pilot project, the council agreed in May to exclude a number of New Town streets from its plans to introduce the giant communal wheelie bins, which were branded ugly and smelly by objectors. Instead, it was agreed that certain streets, such as Gloucester Lane and Ann Street, would be sent small, individual bins, provided householders could store them off the street.
Residents in Carlton Terrace Mews thought their narrow streets would make them exempt from this, as most properties lack the space to store bins.
Calton Councillor Douglas Kerr labelled the bins "unacceptable".
He said: "I do share the concerns over the aesthetics of the bins. The large green bins aren't suitable in the mews.
"Were it at my door I wouldn't be happy. If the current consultation does not succeed I will be happy to make further representation to make sure that something gets done. It is not acceptable in the World Heritage Site."
Mews residents were also furious at their treatment from environmental services, accusing the council of "bullying".
Ms Greene, 47, a receptionist, contacted a council helpline after the binmen failed to collect the rubbish, and was put through to environmental services. She said: "The young man on the phone had a very snippy tone."
A council spokeswoman said: "A refuse vehicle attended an address in Carlton Terrace Mews earlier this morning and found that access was blocked by a van. The crew returned to the street later that morning, as is the norm, and the refuse was then collected."
Binmen have refused to collect extra rubbish generated over the festive season, turning down a £500 payment to do so.
They rejected the deal in protest at rubbish trucks being taken off the streets in the new year.
The full article contains 726 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
