Wheelie Crazy!

And, as the first bins were delivered in Baildon, opposition councillors demanded to know the exact cost putting the logo on the containers.

Residents said they were flabbergasted when they saw the "ostentatious" bins.

One householder, Philip Walker, said: "They were all lined up in my street looking like they had royal approval. The gold was actually glowing."

But chairman of the Council's waste management sub-committee councillor Keith Thomson today defended the decision to include the gold crests which is thought to have added up to £18,000 to the cost of providing the bins throughout the district.

He said: "We are trying to get a bit of civic pride. Not everyone knows about the coat of arms."

He added that the civic emblem to go on about 180,000 bins was not real gold and had cost little because of the sheer bulk of the order.

"It. would probably be about five or six pence a bin - the cost of a bin liner. If it is more than 10p a bin I would be surprised. We wanted them to look attractive because we are proud to have started this scheme in Bradford."

Councillor Thompson was unable to tell the T&A the exact cost of the embossed emblem, but if it were 10p per bin, it would have cost Council Tax payers £18,000.

He said the large order for Britain's fourth biggest metropolitan authority had also kept the cost of the bins down to about £15 each - far less than in normal retail outlets.

But the first 6,900 gold bedecked green bins were dubbed "strange" by residents as they made their much heralded debut in the village.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrat group who lives in Baildon, said: "I think a big, gold coat of arms is definitely overkill. When all's said and done, it's only a rubbish container."

Retired surveyor Mike Denbow of West Lane, Baildon, said: "I couldn't get over how ostentatious they were - although nothing Bradford Council does flabbergasts me any more.

"The first thing I want to know is what these 'gold plated' rubbish bins are costing us.

"But I suppose if the cost of the coat of arms is reasonable, there's nothing wrong with a bit of civic pride."

Mr Walker, an advertising manager, who lives off Springfield Road said: "I think it is a very strange place to put a big coat of arms."

The leader of the Council's Conservative group Councillor Margaret Eaton said the Council would again be a laughing stock.

"But I think it is quite appropriate that the Labour council should put its logo on rubbish receptacles. Perhaps they would like to throw their policies in them.

"I shall be asking what it cost to buy the bins and how much extra the coats of arms have cost."

But retired health authority accountant David Barnett of Heatherside, Baildon, said he did not object to the coat of arms as long as the costs were not high.

"I believe presentation is important and I'm all for marketing as long as the cost is reasonable."

Delivery of the Baildon bins in Baildon will end tomorrow, apart from up at to 500 homes occupied by elderly or infirm people.

People should start using their wheelie bins now and the first collections will begin in the West Lane area of Baildon next week.

The Council says there are a few properties where access is a problem and those people will continue to use sacks.

Anyone with a problem is being asked to ring the cleansing hotline on (01274) 752525.

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