A woman is threatening to sue her local council because she claims ”unsightly” new green wheelie bins have decreased the value of her home – by £5,000.
Furious Judie Chisholm, 57, claims that the ”bulky” green bins have killed off her property’s aesthetic appeal.
She has written to Torbay Council’s legal department demanding £5,000 compensation for the new bins that are ”unsuitable” for her needs.
Ms Chisholm says her £200,000 home in Paignton, Devon, has been reduced in value because the bins have to be permanently stored on the pavement outside.
She said: ”I strongly object to the area in general being turned from a beautiful tourist attraction into a slum.
”It would be bad enough if these bins were only on display one day a week.
”But wheelie bins are having to be stored permanently on pavements where there is no other option and recycling is being left out for days on end because of late collections.”
Since July, Ms Chisholm has frequently contacted the council over her concerns but was told the new bins were ”much safer and quicker” for crews to handle than sacks.
She said that because properties on her road all have steps up to the front door, the bins have to stay on the street.
In a string of emails to the council, she explained that the wheelie bins have ”wrecked all kerb appeal in one fell swoop”.
Ms Chisholm is also threatening to deduct money from her council tax for each additional day her recycling collection is delayed and left in the street.
A Torbay Council spokesman said that a Government-funded survey deemed a number of properties in Torbay could accommodate the new bins.
He added: ”We can confirm we have received a letter from a resident which has been referred to our claims team for consideration.”
The spokesman added that the wheeled bins have been introduced because it is safer for crews to hook a wheeled bin on the back of a refuse truck, rather than have staff handle bin sacks.
