New communal bin stores installed in Coldhurst

Investment work in the West St part of the Coldhurst neighbourhood continues – we have replaced bin chutes in the blocks of flats with new communal bin stores outside the buildings.

The new bin stores are designed to reduce fire risks while providing residents with bigger bins to dispose of their waste and recycling more easily. It is hoped that the new facilities will also help to cut the amount of litter and fly tipping locally, which we know is an issue.

Bin chutes in blocks on Broome Street, Fletcher Close, Belton Walk and Vale Drive are no longer in use.

While work to install the bin stores has been ongoing, we have written to customers to let them know about the upcoming changes and share recycling information.

David Wrigley, our Head of Neighbourhood Care, said:

"Keeping customers safe in their homes is our priority, and the new bin stores away from properties will ensure the buildings continue to keep residents safe and comply with current fire safety legislation.

"Residents told us they would like better rubbish disposal facilities and we hope that the new bins will make it easier for locals to recycle and have a positive impact on the amount of local flytipping and litter we see. High volumes of rubbish dumped in the neighbourhood are a problem, and the new bin facilities are part of our plan to address this. We need the community to support us in this work and dispose of their rubbish carefully.”

We are rolling out similar improvements at blocks of flats across the borough as part of our fire safety investment programme and continued work to reduce our environmental impact and support customers to reduce their carbon footprint too.

We will be in touch with customers to let you know when work in your block will be underway.

Wider investment and regeneration plans

Investment in the new bin stores is among the improvement work we are delivering in the neighbourhood next to our West Vale development.

Following consultation with people in the area to listen to what is important to them, we are improving facilities at communal blocks and making the most of green spaces locally.

We have already partnered with Caddick Construction - our West Vale development contractor – to undertake community waste collection days and clear alleyways of rubbish to make the area cleaner and greener.

Early in the West Vale project, we brought the communal garden at the rear of Vale Drive back up to a standard so it can be maintained by Neighbourhood Care and we are keen to work with the local community to turn it into something special. If you have any ideas please get in touch with our team by calling 0161 393 7117 or email websiteenquiries@fcho.co.uk.

This investment is in addition to a further £620k that we are spending on existing homes in the area over the next five years to ensure they are energy efficient and economical to run.

This will mean, where needed, new bathrooms, kitchens, windows, insulation, and more, along with upgrades to fencing, gates, and landscaping around the area to make sure the neighbourhood and homes are high quality and fit for the future.