Salisbury City Council: Committee turn down commercial bin proposal

Wiltshire Council had requested that Salisbury City Council consider the creation of communal commercial bin storage points at two locations; the Market Square near the toilets and on Queen Street next to The Guildhall. 

These would be to assist specifically in removing commercial bins from Butcher Row & Fish Row.

But the city council rejected the proposals, with cllr Atiqul Hoque saying it was "simply asking for trouble".

Cllr Hoque added: “I am not very comfortable about this. A permanent bin is simply asking for trouble. Without seeing a proper plan, it doesn’t sound right to me. This is giving a free fly tipping option and we would be left to carry the garbage.”

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Cllr Paul Sample said: “Salisbury has a wonderful medieval street scene. Fish Row and Butcher Row have in recent years become a disgrace to the city we are proud of, and no one seems prepared to tell the organisations that they should clean up.

“We should ensure that there are no more commercial bins and need to ensure that every business is responsible for the disposal of its rubbish. I am entirely opposed to this recommendation.”

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Cllr Tom Corbin said: “Several different thoughts. I am certainly against the idea of having bins stashed against the side of the Guildhall. The visual appearances disturb me. No one needs reminding the Guildhall is a listed building.

"I imagine the Salisbury Civic Society would be extremely keen to know what the appearance of the proposed is. It would need to fit well as it (Market Place) is a very versatile place as it is. There are lots of design proposal aspects to this as well which are really important."

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The committee members voted down the proposal and in a statement to the Journal today (Tuesday, July 4) leader of the opposition, Cllr Eleanor Wills said: “This is a despicable act of politicising a key issue for local residents and businesses alike.

"The administration running Salisbury City Council could not bring themselves to support sensible plans from Wiltshire Council to deal with the commercial bins in the city centre, despite the outcry on social media, in particular.”