Petition to get rubbish bins re-instated
A PETITION has gathered over 400 signatures to re-instate rubbish bins on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Devizes.
The petition will be presented to both Canal & River Trust and Wadsworth Brewery today to re-instate the boaters' rubbish bins at the Bridge Inn on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Horton, near Devizes. A number of the signatories will assemble between 12noon and 2pm at the brewery when the petition is presented.
No response from the Trust
In the past few days Wadworths has offered an alternative site for smaller bins, but putting this offer into practice relies on Canal & River Trust including the new site in its bin collection schedule. The petition was presented to Canal & River Trust in November 2018 but no response has been received from the Trust.
Living or holidaying on a canal boat means you rely on the facilities provided at the canalside, such as rubbish bins. There are no other facilities that boaters on the move can realistically use for their domestic waste. Until recently, the Bridge Inn at Horton, Wiltshire was the site of rubbish bins provided by the Trust on land owned by Wadworths.
Trust closed facilities
On 1st August 2018 the Trust informed boaters that the bins at the Bridge Inn, Horton would be closed until further notice due to Wadworths withdrawing its consent for the bin site.
Boaters have already lost rubbish disposal at the Barge Inn, Honey Street; the bins at the very busy Devizes Wharf were removed for some years and only replaced with bins of much reduced capacity after lobbying on the part of boaters and others.
More facilities lost
Around the same time the bins at Hungerford were removed due to access problems. Even before this, boaters' facilities on the Kennet and Avon Canal, a major holiday boating destination, were scarce and inadequate.
The petition signatories have been extremely concerned about the effect on boaters, especially those who live aboard, of removing yet another essential facility on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
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