Residents of a local authority estate in the constituency of Minister for the Environment, Mr Roche, have been told that their homes are to be inspected amid concerns that they are avoiding bin charges by stockpiling rubbish in their back gardens.
A number of families in Oldcourt estate, which is owned by Bray Town Council, have protested that they can not afford to pay the refuse charges, currently €5.40 per bag. Some families with children maintain they need three to four bags per week.
A waiver scheme operated by the council offers an allowance of only 10 bags per year.
The promised inspections have provoked outrage among locals who claim they are increasingly desperate over the question about what to do with their household waste.
The council wrote to tenants of the estate on February 3rd informing them of its intention to carry out "spot checks on dwellings and gardens", without specifically mentioning a search for rubbish. The letter warned that where properties were below standard they would "have to be brought up to the required standard" and added that "failure to rectify the situation will result in further action being taken, and may ultimately lead to your eviction". The letter was signed by housing development officer Mr Mark O'Neill.
Mr O'Neill was not available for comment yesterday, but a spokesman for the council said the inspections would be part of the council's statutory duties to ensure housing stock was being maintained.
Resident Ms Cathleen Kennedy, who received a letter, said she was outraged. "These people don't know what to do. Are they expected to eat it?" she asked.
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