CHANGES to how Bradford Council collects rubbish from difficult to reach homes provoked concern at a meeting of Oxenhope Parish Council.

Worth Valley Ward councillor Rebecca Poulsen said the district council plans to shift as many of these more rural, outlying properties as possible onto its standard wheeled bin system.

“It may seem simple but it’s not straightforward,” she added.

“It involves 4,500 properties across the district and every home is different.

“Where people place their wheelie bins for rubbish collection is the problem, especially if they live half a mile down a track.

“Some people aren’t very happy because they like the old service which comes straight to their door to take their rubbish away.

“As district councillors we have not been consulted and this is out of our hands. But we are still trying to help residents and show them what options they have.”

Oxennhope Parish Council chairman, Cllr Ken Eastwood, said: “I know someone who lives at Lee Lane, off Moor Side Lane, and they wouldn’t have anywhere to place a wheelie bin, apart from on a very narrow bit of pavement.

“There is a concern about pavements being completely blocked by these bins. It’s about finding sensible solutions.”

Cllr David Ashcroft said he could appreciate what the district council was trying to achieve, but said it was important that it communicates with all householders likely to be affected.

He added the location of his own home meant it would also struggle to accommodate standard wheeled bin collections.

Cllr Poulsen said Haworth also has a problem with some householders having nowhere convenient to put out their wheeled bins.

She said those harder to access homes selected to be transferred to the new waste collection system would be receiving notification letters from Bradford Council.