"The Alberts" Community Association

Cllr Martin Elengorn
Cabinet Member for Environment
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
10 Albert Road
Teddington
TWI1 0BD

12 October, 2006

Dear Councillor Elengorn,

WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICE REVIEW CONSULTATION

The Alberts are a densely populated area, with very narrow roads, comprising, in the main, some 400 Victorian cottages situated behind the junction of Sheen and Church Roads and a few minutes walk from Richmond town centre. The Alberts Community Association (ACA) have represented the interests of those who live and those who work here since 1983. In this capacity we have liaised regularly with the Council of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames on many local issues.

I am now writing on behalf of the ACA to express concern about issues raised by the questionnaire enclosed with the September issue of "Arcadia" magazine as part of the consultation on LBRUT's Waste and Reycling Service Review. At our Spring public meeting in March we benefited from a presentation by David Ingham of the Council's Street Scene Department about the problems and opportunities presented by a look at the current operation of the town's waste and recycling service. At that time the possible option of a fortnightly, as opposed to a weekly refuse, collection was not a point of borough wide debate.

REFUSE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT AND THEIR SIZE: The Alberts have a very narrow street pattern and a Council installed warning sign at the entrance gives notice that the area is not suitable for large vehicles. As a consequence we strongly urge that narrower vehicles than those used at present are considered as an element in the vehicle renewal programme. Blockage of roads and damage to parked privately owned vehicles by oversized vehicles promotes a) discontent and b) animosity towards those providing Council services.

SEPARATING PLASTIC BOTTLES AND CARDBOARD FOR COLLECTION: This has wide local support as long as it is administered sensibly.

COUNCIL PROVIDED CONTAINERS FOR WASTE COLLECTION: This is at the heart of our concerns. The average Alberts cottage is internally extremely small with postage stamp sized gardens and even smaller frontage areas. Some cottages have no frontage at all, open direct onto the street and have no separate rear exit to the street. From a practical viewpoint we are firmly opposed to the introduction of green 180-litre wheeled bins, or even their being offered as an option - there is simply no room in or around our properties for them to be stored. From the aesthetic viewpoint the very idea is quite appalling. The Alberts are part of the St Matthias Conservation Area, with the additional protection of Article 4 Direction for Houblon Road and Albany Terrace and Townscape Merit status for most properties. Local people value the streetscape and have worked hard over the years to maintain and enhance the area's attractiveness. For example the annual Alberts in Bloom, leading to success in the Richmond Borough in Bloom and London in Bloom competitions, is keenly contested. In 1993, in partnership with the Council, the Association constructed a community garden. With the support of English Heritage, and in partnership with the Council, the Association have project managed the replacement of the ugly 60's street lighting in seven of our roads with restored Victorian cast iron columns topped by replica lanterns and high quality modern lighting. The expenditure of