Frome’s ‘jewel in the crown’ being ruined as rubbish problems escalate

BUSINESSES on Catherine Hill are becoming increasingly fed up with the regularly missed rubbish collections on the Hill.

Nearby business owners have told the Frome Times problems with rubbish at the top of Catherine Hill have yet to be resolved, despite several complaints made to Mendip District Council and Frome Town Council.

Sharon Hall, from Bon Bon Chic says she has repeatedly told Mendip District Council about the problem but, ‘no-one gives a damn.’

She said, “It’s been an ongoing problem for as long as I can remember. Every couple of months a collection is missed – it’s a regular occurrence and I’m sick of it.

“When I called Mendip District Council about the  latest missed collection, I was told, ‘It’s not my problem, I’m busy helping the homeless’. They are rude and are not interested in sorting out the problem.

“In July when we had the spell of very hot weather, a pile of rubbish was left uncollected for a week. You could smell it from inside my shop and there were flies everywhere. At first I thought it was a problem with the drains but soon realised it was the rubbish and there were thousands of maggots coming from one of the bags – it was absolutely disgusting.

“I called Frome Town Council and Mendip District Council on the Wednesday after it wasn’t collected on the Monday, as did a lot of people, and they said they were aware of the problem, but it still wasn’t collected until the following week.

“On the Saturday morning when I arrived to open my shop, the rubbish had been kicked all over the street and there were bottles everywhere. I had to pick it all up and tidy the area which I shouldn’t have to do – it’s ridiculous. I’m very proud of my shop and like to keep it clean and tidy, as do the other businesses on Catherine Hill, but for us to have to clear up uncollected rubbish on a regular occurrence is terrible.

“Catherine Hill is such a beautiful hill and people regularly take pictures from the top looking down the street, but they definitely weren’t that day. People were stopping and staring in disbelief.

“We shouldn’t have to put up with this, it’s unacceptable that we are constantly ignored. What’s the point in complaining, they don’t do anything – it’s pathetic.”

A Somerset Waste Partnership spokesman said, “The missed collection of Monday 18th July and waste later fly-tipped by individuals or businesses was cleared by Somerset Waste Partnership’s contractor. We apologise for both the initial missed collection and that the catch-up pick-up did not take place as quickly as we would usually aim to do.

“If any collections in this area are missed, it is important that this is reported immediately to Mendip District Council customer services, ideally with full details by email on customerservices@mendip.gov.uk  The waste should be taken back in at the end of the day to discourage overnight fly-tipping or interference by passers-by and re-presented by 7am to allow catch-up pick-ups. Anyone with information about fly-tipping should inform Mendip District Council customer services. For more on kerbside collections, and what to do if collections are missed, see www.somersetwaste.gov.uk ”