Appalled at damage to kerbside

10:50am Friday 14th November 2008

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I am appalled by the actions of a kerbside collection crew.

Although I appreciate the grass verge outside my property belongs to the council I, like many of my neighbours, choose to maintain it myself: I cut and edge the grass and apply feed in spring and autumn. I feel this not only embellishes the appearance of my property but the street in general.

I live opposite Woodlands Drive, a cul de sac. Of the 3 kerbside collection crews that visit my property the one which collects glass, metal and paper choose to occasionally drive over my verge when reversing into the cul de cac. This is lazy and careless but during the drier months does not cause too much damage. This causes a lot of damage when the weather is wetter, such as at present.There is no reason to violate the verge on exiting the cul de sac under any circumstances.

A fortnight ago they stepped this up, reversing right over the area with a turn of the wheels in the middle which maximised the damage caused. I dutifully went out with my fork and made repairs as best I could. In an attempt to minimise further damage I bought two large ornamental stones (total cost £12) and bedded these into the edge of the verge.

The crew have reacted very badly to my attempt to keep them off the verge when collecting on Friday 7th November. They approached from the opposite direction to usual, meaning they were not outside my property on reversing into the cul de sac. On exiting, however, they have driven on to the verge and reversed off to correct the line of the vehicle to allow them to travel the full length of it with their front wheels. They had to rev the engine hard to get up and over the stones. The effect has been to strip off a significant area of turf, put deep tyre marks the full length of the verge, and damage one of the decorative stones.

I have attached several photograhs to show the full extent of the damage to the verge in front of both my property and that of my neighbour. I have also attached a photograph to show the relative position of the cul de sac in an attempt to demonstrate how litttle need there is to violate the verge at all.

As previously stated, reversing over the verge when entering the cul de sac is lazy and careless, but causing this damage took considerable effort. Their was no reason to violate the verge at all but to correct the vehicle and force it up and over the stones I believe constitutes deliberate and malicious damage of the verge. I cannot understand the motivation for such action.

I rang Trafford Borough Council to complain at about 9.30am on Friday morning (Rubbish, Waste and Recycling on 912 4000) and spoke to Steve. He listened to my complaint and said he would pass the details to Waste Management, who would contact me. I have so far heard nothing. I would be interested to know their thoughts on contractors employed by them damaging their property in this manner. Most of all I want this damage to stop.

Rob Macdonald