A COUNCIL has defended a waste collection scheme after coming under fire from residents and local councillors.

Wear Valley District Council has introduced more than 29,000 wheelie bins across the district over recent weeks.

Residents are asked to leave the bins outside their doors for collection or, in areas with narrow roads, at the end of the street.

But some people say the bins restrict access to their properties, while many homeowners have also objected to having to wheel the bins to and from their homes and say that the bins are attracting vermin.

The council's acting director of community services, Max Coleby, said that some things may have been done differently "with the benefit of hindsight".

But he insisted: "I think we all want to make sure this service works quickly and effectively. Everyone has a part to play in that, not just the council. These issues can be resolved."

Charlie Kay, deputy leader of the council, also said he was confident that the scheme would overcome its teething problems.

"It's an improvement to what was already there," he said. "I believe in the fullness of time, the scheme will prove to be a success."

The first wheelie bins were delivered at the end of March with more delivered last month, and were designed to streamline the area's waste collection service.

But Coun John Shuttleworth, who represents the St Helen's Chapel area, said that many people were unhappy.

He said: "I have been on the receiving end of about one hundred phone calls. I don't think it's been thought out correctly."

Gary Russell, of Copeland Road, West Auckland, said: "The council's put all this money to have these bins, but I'd rather they collected black bin bags like they used to.

"There's no reduction in council tax, but we're doing their work for them."

Sally Rowley, who lives at Weardale Animal Sanctuary, near Stanhope, said: "As it stands, I'd have to drive two miles every week to drop off my bin at the collection point and then collect it again.

"It's a health and hygiene hazard and it's just crazy. So we'll keep putting our rubbish outside and they can come and collect it. It's like a wild goose chase and we're not getting a service."