Bins and bike rack built in front of home

A family that moved into a new housing association home in Newtown were left stunned after the landlords installed a communal bike rack, rubbish bins and a recycling area right outside their door, facing their front windows.

Kevin Guntrip, who is disabled and lives with his partner and 18 month old daughter at the Mid Wales Housing Association development at Llys Croesawdy in Newtown, moved into the new home without being told what was going to be built in front of their home until they’d already given up their tenancy on another property and just days before moving in.

Now the family has to contend with metal doors on the bike rack and bin area banging constantly throughout the day and night, rubbish left strewn outside their front door, and Mr Guntrip unable to access his home with his mobility scooter.

And despite the bike rack and refuse area being built, they have been told they cannot have a shed or building outside the property for storage.

County Councillor Joy Jones has raised the issue and says she is concerned at how the situation has been handled. She said the family were told about the bins and bicycle rack on the day they signed the tenancy agreement and had no choice.

“It’s awful for them. They gave up their tenancy elsewhere to move here and when they moved in they found the bike shed being installed literally in front of their window and front door, along with a row of communal bins and recycling area.

“They have lost their privacy but, more importantly, there is a noise nuisance and rubbish is being left outside their front door.

"It’s not fair for them to put up with this.”

Cllr Jones believes an area at the entrance to the cul-de-sac is more suited as it doesn’t infringe on any properties and is more easily accessible.

“Why couldn’t they put all this at the entrance where there is a large piece of land and car spaces. It could have been reversed quite easily,” added Cllr Jones.

Mr Guntrip said he was left in a very awkward position. “We love the property, but when we  gave notice to move here and move in we were confronted with the bike rack and bins.

"We hadn’t been told about this and I’m worried about the noise and mess we’re now confronted with,” he said.

When MyNewtown visited Mr Guntrip’s home there were batteries, electrical connectors and other items left strewn across the pavement and front door where rubbish bags had split.

“What if my 18 month old daughter got hold of these. It’s not safe and not fair.”

Jude Boutle, Development Manager of Mid-Wales Housing Association responded: “The Association is very proud of the new development at Llys Croesawdy and Ffordd Croesawdy, which has been built to a very high standard. The properties are well designed and economical to run”.

"The Association is pleased to have helped resolve the housing difficulties of many local families by providing a brand new home for them.

“When asked about the design of the bin stores, the Association pointed out that as responsible landlords, it will be monitoring the use of the bin and bicycle stores to ensure that tenants maintain it, and the apartments remain a clean and tidy environment in which to live. 

“They added that when Mr Guntrip viewed his new home before moving in he was made aware of the location of the bin and cycle stores and he informed us that that he was more than happy to confirm his acceptance of the tenancy, and did so on a number of occasions after the Association made him aware of the positioning of the bin and bicycle stores.

“Although there was space to place the stores at the other end of the car parking area, this was not acceptable to the planners. Where the stores are placed complies with the planning consent.

“The Association would stress that we have not received a direct formal complaint from any of the new tenants in the properties about the bin and bicycle store or any aspect of the development, quite the contrary; tenants are generally pleased with their new homes. If Mr Guntrip or any of the other tenants are genuinely so unhappy, we would be happy to consider a transfer application.”

Captions: 

1. Cllr Joy Jones with Kevin Guntrip outside the house

2. The communal bike rack outside the family home

2. Cllr Jones and Mr Guntrip with the communal bins and bike rack

3. The communal bins facing the front of the family home 

4. Cllr Jones on the area at the other end of the cul-de-sac that could have been used for the communal bins and bike rack.