Neath: Recycling piles up as bin lorry blocked

Residents in a narrow street said they have been left "swimming in rubbish" after month-long waits for recycling collections.

Those living in Richmond Street in Neath said piles of rubbish have been building up on the pavements outside their homes on the cul-de-sac.

They claimed inconsiderate parking left the council's recycling lorry unable to access them.

Neath Port Talbot council said it has since collected the rubbish.

"We share the frustrations of residents in Richmond Street as our collection vehicles have been unable to obtain access recently due to inappropriate parking," said a council spokesperson.

"However we have now managed to collect waste from the street. We would appeal to motorists to be considerate when on-street parking particularly on recycling collection days."

Charlotte Mcnaught, live on Richmond Street with her children for seven years, said the issue is ongoing and very frustrating for residents.

"This problem has been going on back and forth for years but this is the worst it has been with us going four weeks without a recycling collection," she said.

"We're just swimming in rubbish when it gets to that point."

She wants a bollard on the corner to stop people parking there.

James Jones, who also lives on the street, added: "We are starting to worry that it will attract rats."

A council spokesperson added: "After suffering access issues we try to re-visit at the end of shifts to collect residents' recycling but the success of this still depends on considerate parking.

"Recycling wagons are heavy and wide so our drivers need to be certain they can safely travel down a street and manoeuvre before entering."