A WOMAN in Cumnock is growing restless over the continued mess that is collecting behind a row of shops on Townhead Street.

The resident says the bins located at the back of the Ayrshire Hospice shop and Pathead Bakery are always over-flowing or being set on fire by trouble-makers – but nothing is being done about it.

On Saturday, August 14 the woman said she was shocked to see a rat eating food from the bins - leaving her shaken and resolute that the mess needs to be sorted.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I phoned Ayrshire Hospice years ago to complain about it but nobody bothered. The staff in the hospice shop and the bakers are both upset, too.

“The lady who manages the shop at the weekend, I saw her putting stuff in the bin and I asked, can you lock it? She said they don’t lock them anymore because people just keep breaking them open.

“Twice or three times a year, the fire engines are here because they set the bins on fire, or people go through the bins raking for anything they can sell.

“It’s terrible, the bins are overloading and they can’t lock them.”

Cumnock Chronicle:

The woman added that the site is a “complete eyesore” and is becoming increasingly dangerous for pupils of the local school who walk the road on their morning commute.

An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “An officer from the waste service has visited the location and inspected both bins which were found to be in a good condition but required new locks to offer security on the waste deposited.

“Local businesses have advised that the bins are regularly raided and the locks damaged.

“The bin area was clean and tidy when the officer arrived and he was advised that the previous mess on the ground had been caused accidentally by a local business and that this would not happen again.

“New locks will be placed on both bins and officers will continue to monitor this area.”