OVERFLOWING bins on a Bradford estate are 'open season for vermin', claims a local resident.

Four communal waste bins, including two of which are recycling, outside Seamer and Leconfield Houses on Cavendish Road, Thorpe Edge, have been a source of frustration for local residents. 

Thorpe Edge resident John Walmsley said: "These bins have been absolutely chock a block and the residents say the two recycling bins haven't been collected for at least eight weeks.

"It's open season for any kind of vermin to go in there. It's easy pickings for them.

"We've got an issue with rats and the other day I saw four cats staking out these bins with all the vermin running around.

"There was so much litter on the streets after the gales of wind last week.

"These poor people. It's a really bad situation."

"They put a red contaminated label on the recycling bins and the bin men won't take them."

"I've been writing to Bradford Council and Incommunities for four years and I've got nowhere," said Leconfield House resident Paul Creighton. "The problem is to do with people not recycling properly.

"There have been rats there and sometimes we get foxes, pigeons and cats too.

"I've put signs up behind the bins asking people to put the right stuff in the right bins."

"I can't live with it so I litter pick the area twice a week," added Mr Walmsley. "I'm retired so I thought I'd put a bit back into the community.

"I think they should just put four general waste bins there and see how it goes.

"It's not rocket science. If there are no recycling bins they won't get contaminated."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the issue of contaminated waste in this area and are working with Incommunities to try to engage with residents to use the correct bins.

"We are currently speaking to residents at a neighbouring property to try to get them to recycle correctly. If this is a success we will roll this out to other flats in Thorpe Edge.”

A spokesperson for Incommunities said: "We are aware of concerns about rubbish in this area and are working with Bradford Council to try and help.

"Bins for disposing of waste and recycling properly are available and residents know of their responsibility to do so.

"A colleague from Incommunities visited the site again yesterday and will report back to our Estates team and Bradford Council."

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