Torus' plans for bin store to 'combat rubbish' near flats approved

Housing group Torus submitted proposals to St Helens Council planners for a brick-built lockable facility near to properties on Ashtons Green Drive, in Parr, 

A design and access statement in the plans said: "The area is mainly residential with a small parade of commercial units with maisonette apartments above. The commercial units have enclosed waste storage/ ancillary space to the rear with parking for the adjacent houses behind.

"The area in front of 1-13 Ashton Greens Drive benefits from a wind footpath and grass verge which is set down at a lower level than the public highway."

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Plans sought permission for a small residential bin store within the curtilage of 1-13 Ashtons Green Drive. It is proposed to create a brick-built lockable bin store on the grass verge in front of the properties.

This is for use by residents of the intended properties only.

Plans added: "The proposal intends to combat the unsightly piles of rubbish which are left ready for collection".

In a report, council planning officer Julie Hine said: "The application was submitted after an initial enquiry by Torus and subsequent site meeting with a planning officer.

"There is an ongoing problem with waste from the first floor flats and issues with storage and collection resulting in complaints from occupiers to Torus and the Waste manager of the council and the local councillor.

"Alternative locations for the bin store have been explored but are not considered viable due to issues with the location of services.

"Although the location of the bin store is not ideal in terms of its visibility and location with some degree of visual harm caused to the area in this instance, it is considered an acceptable solution to a wider problem with other sites considered unacceptable".

Permission was granted.

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