PROBLEMS with bin collections on Edwardian Middlesbrough streets have reared their head once again.

Rubbish pick ups in parts of Linthorpe were delayed for days last week during the hot weather after Middlesbrough Council’s alley bin wagon broke down. 

And there was fresh frustration on Tuesday despite efforts to use wagons from other parts of town to plug the gap. 

Cllr Philippa Storey said bins were collected three days late last week during the warm spell – and was concerned the small wagon would not return.  

The member for Linthorpe added: “It’s been constantly breaking down and the department has categorically said they do not want to replace it.

“That means when it does break down, there should be a plan in place but there doesn’t seem to be. 

“You need to have a plan in advance so if it doesn’t work you have an alternative.

“It’s driving me and residents mad. 

“The bins absolutely stink.”

Campaigners celebrate retaining their alleyway bin pick-ups last year after letters were sent to hundreds of householders informing them their back street collections were coming to an end. 

Linthorpe folk feared changes would make putting bins out the front of Edwardian terraces difficult – due to trouble wheeling them through homes and access problems facing elderly people.

There were also worries about the effect it could have on the area’s conservation area.

This week saw a wagon called in from another part of town to help with pick-ups in the leafy suburb. 

But Cllr Storey said problems hadn’t gone away – and that hundreds of bins were still to be collected at the back of Hambledon Road and Westbourne Road, and Oxford Road and Barker Road as of Wednesday morning.

The Labour councillor added: “Quite a few bins were missed – it is ridiculous.

“If the council wants to go to front kerbside collection, they are clearly going to have to organise another bin team and bin wagon.

“It feels as if the council are trying to inconvenience residents to the point where they accept going to kerbside collections.”

Cllr Barrie Cooper, executive member for environment, finance and governance, confirmed the specialist alley wagon had been “out of commission” due to an electrical fault “taking longer to repair than had been envisaged”. 

He added: “In the meantime, we’ve brought in additional resources to assist in pulling the bins to the alley ends where they can be emptied into an alternative vehicle. 

“I would like to apologise to residents and for any inconvenience caused and assure them that we’re doing everything we can to get the service back to normal as soon as possible.”