West Northamptonshire Council has started a new push to clear bin bags and large containers from the streets of Northampton, Northamptonshire. The local authority is now strictly enforcing rules that prevent businesses and property owners from leaving waste on the pavement throughout the day.
Under the new rules, rubbish can only be placed outside during specific two-hour windows. This move is part of a plan to keep the town centre tidy and ensure that main shopping areas, such as Abington Street and the Market Square, remain clear for shoppers and visitors.
Council leaders say that bin clutter can attract pests and makes the town look untidy after recent multi-million-pound improvements.
The changes also aim to help people with disabilities, as large bins often block the way for wheelchairs and prams on narrow pavements like St Giles Street. Businesses are being told they must store their bins on their own property and only move them to the street when it is time for the collection trucks to arrive.
Those who do not follow the Northampton Town Centre Environmental Policy could face immediate fines of up to £1,000. The council is stepping up its efforts as part of a wider update to bin collection rules across the country.
