HADLEIGH Country Park's overflowing bins has unnerved several residents but Castle Point Council assured the public it is on top of it.

The council's refuse team has now emptied the large bin and will be undertaking a litter pick of Castle Lane.

Rubbish was strewn across Hadleigh Country Park following the Bank Holiday weekend, but it appears that it has been an ongoing problem for some time, and that the extra visitors may not be to blame.

Head of governance at Castle Point Council, Ann Horgan, pointed out that since the large bin, managed by Essex County Council, was put in place several years ago, overtime it has been used by people to dispose of their household waste and council officers have even found trade waste in it.

She, said: "Our refuse team empty the bin weekly on a Thursday, however, this has proven difficult at times over the years due to parked cars preventing the refuse freighter getting near the bin and we have had to make numerous return trips to empty it.  

"The emptying of the bin continued during the lockdown period when the county park was closed with the bin still being filled with waste, so unfortunately this was either a consequence of people getting rid of their household waste or trade waste being placed in the bin.

"I am not sure if people could access the country park easily during its closure but if so, this would have also meant use of the bin.

"Since last Thursday we have had to make a number of revisits to empty the bin, finally being able to clear today."   

Hadleigh Country Park re-opened to the public last week, on May 21.

In response to the suggestion of a second been, the council fear this would make the problem worse.

Ann, added: "I believe this would only make the situation worse, however, I have contacted Essex County Council suggesting to them that the large bin is removed and we replace it with a number for street litter bins.

"While this suggestion if introduced, may not solve the unwanted dumping, it will allow us to clear the bins and any unwanted waste more easily without the use of a refuse vehicle.

"Whilst I await a response from Essex County Council our inspectors will be visiting the bin regularly to monitor how it is being used."