Stronger Skip Rules Welcomed

6.17.00pm GMT Fri 8th Jan 2010

"I have called for tougher action and welcome the Council's announcement that it is committed to ensuring that skips are removed promptly once they have been filled," said Cllr Dave Radcliffe.

Selly Oak Councillor Dave Radcliffe has welcomed city-wide proposals for stronger controls on skips. Birmingham City Council has announced a new scheme, to be rolled out during 2010, which will seek to control the use of skips on public highways and the eyesore that they can cause for local residents.

Under the proposals the Council will introduce a new permit system requiring anyone wishing to place a skip on a public highway to first obtain a permit. The permit will specify the location and set time period for which the skip will be required - usually seven days from the date the permit begins.

If a skip is not removed by the 'end date' then the Council will be able to take action to have it removed and to penalise the skip operating company responsible.

Dave Radcliffe said: "Responsible skip use helps to keep Birmingham clean. But we all know that there are too many cases where overflowing skips are not collected quickly enough and blight a neighbourhood."

"I have called for tougher action and welcome the Council's announcement that it is committed to ensuring that skips are removed promptly once they have been filled."

While an estimated 80,000 skips are hired and placed upon the public highway every year in Birmingham, according to a sample survey conducted in 2006/7, under the current unregulated system the council only receives around 3,000 official notifications of their placement per year.

The proposals include a fee of £10 to skip operators for a seven day permit to cover administration costs and penalties will be put in place for skip operators who fail to comply with the permit rules. Charging for skip permits as a means to regulate their use is common practice among most local authorities in the West Midlands, including Solihull (£47 for a 7-day permit), Sandwell (£26) and Dudley (£20).