I'm trapped at home by wheeled bin, says Bill, 80
AN ELDERLY man who lost a kidney to cancer has become a prisoner in his own home after a large wheeled dustbin was delivered and blocked his narrow gate.
Bill Bowhay was left fuming when the controversial new bins were dropped off at his Hayes Road home in Paignton.
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The 80-year-old retired carpenter, who has to care for his wife Moira, a 76-year-old dementia sufferer, said the new recycling contraption was three feet wide and blocked off the small area in front of his gate leading to the 21 steps to his house.
Mr Bowhay said he was all in favour of recycling and doing his bit for the environment, but not at the expense of his liberty and freedom of movement.
The grandfather of five and great-grandfather of two said: "This great big bin was delivered yesterday morning and it takes the whole space in front of the gate.
"I struggle to take my wife out because she requires a lot of care. Now we can't manoeuvre out the front gate. We're being blockaded in our home.
"We used to have the seagull-proof bags which were kept at the back. Why can't we keep the bag and stick with what works?
"I don't want the wheeled bin there."
Mr Bowhay, who had his knees replaced 20 years ago and had a kidney taken out three years ago after a fight against cancer said he contacted the Waste Doctors helpline only to be told the bin would be picked up within 14 days.
Mr Bowhay, who served in the air sea rescue service in Boston, Lincolnshire, said: "I'm all in favour of recycling.
"But I don't want to be trapped in my house for two weeks until they take the bin away."
Meanwhile, residents in nearby Elmbank Road, have left all their wheeled bins in the road.
The bins were used for the last time on Wednesday night but were moved on to the pavement outside the Devonport Arms pub at the junction with Hayes Road.
A spokesman for the pub said: "There are six bins outside my pub windows. They should be outside people's homes. But I guess some of the residents don't want them and put them on the road.
"The council moved them on to the pavement but that's no good. I don't want all these bins outside my pub."
A council spokesman was unavailable for comment.
Letters Extra — see pages 18 and 19.
12 Comments
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by kim, Paignton
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:42AM
“Umm Some of you are missing the bigger picture!
Recycling is being left to the homeowner to sort out, and in the meantime the homeowner is being asked to PAY Council tax for the waste removal and recycling! umm now it doesnt take a brain cell to understand that the homeowner is carrying out a council paid job or have i lost people in that theory? another is if the homeowner is paying for water by a water meter the homeowner is paying to wash out bottles for recycling on behalf of the recycling company, are you still with me people?? please lets wake up and if the councils want to get local people involved then lets have a REDUCTION IN COUNCIL TAX .....”
by Impartial Observer, Torbay
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:23AM
“It's interesting that the complaints about the new recycling boxes have centred on the fact that old people can't move them. Yet here is a story saying that an old person can't move an empty wheelie bin despite it having wheels (the clue's in the name).
Mr Bowhay says he could move seagull-proof bags, but not a plastic bin with wheels. How did he move the seagull-proof bags?
This story clearly identifies that the problems with the new recycling boxes are nothing to do with Tor2, or lack of consultation, but purely in the minds of the locals.”
by Mike, Torquay
Sunday, September 05 2010, 5:51PM
“I suggest that David (St Edmunds), Michelle (St Helens) and all of those others who have made comments familiarise themselves with the layout of Bills front gate before they criticise him. I know the area well and he has a point.
I am fortunate that I have a driveway.I would certainly protest however, if I had a whopping great green bin in front of my gate that I had too squeeze by or move every time I want to access my house.
As for John how can you assume that one of his neighbours would not move it for him. The fact is that neighbours are not always around.
I think that a man who is 80 years old, is recovering from cancer, cares for his wife and served in air sea rescue should be given consideration and if that means publicising it in the Herald so be it.
Anon (Newton Abbot) I suggest you get a few facts and stop speaking to people like some authoritarian and "Get on with your own life".
Finally...I am a keen recycler.However the new scheme is full of flaws and Bill only knows me in passing so I have no axe to grind! I am also aware that other residents in the road have been affected more than Bill.”
by Claire, paignton
Sunday, September 05 2010, 12:58PM
“After reading some of the comments made, I hasten to add that no name given by some. I am so glad that I live in an area of such compassion towards the elderly. That was sarcasm by the way. Some of your points may be valid but so is Bills. Whilst recycling is a must, more communication with the local population would have been adventitious. This may have highlighted some of the difficulties some people may have with the new system before it was implemented. In comment to the reader who mentioned Teignbridge recycling, yes you have been doing it for years, but your system is a lot better than that of what Torbay residents are left with.Maybe Torbay council should have followed Teignbridges example of good recycling methods, which residents can factor into their lives with minimal intrusion. PS I hope that there aren't any elderly residents in need of help who live in the neighbourhoods of some the people who have commented. By the way im 37 not 77 in case you were wondering.”
by Anon Newton Abbot, NA
Saturday, September 04 2010, 9:47PM
“Slight overuse of the military background there. Why do we need to know this much about Bill - it takes up at least 3/4 of the story.
If he is capable of climbing the 20 steps to his home and caring for his wife, then i'm sure he can move a dustbin along a few feet - they are on wheels for goodness' sake!!
People, stop moaning about the reccyling sytem - sure, it has some flaws, but there hardly insurmountable. Get on with it!!”