A PETITION to force residents to remove their wheelie bins from footpaths has been launched.
Residents in Newland Avenue are calling on Hull City Council to crack down on neighbours who do not take their wheelie bins off the street when it is not collection day.
The petition is part of a bigger campaign to tidy up streets in the Avenues area, some of which, such as Goddard Avenue, are plagued by fly-tipping and rubbish.
Councillor Mike Ross is backing the campaign. He said: "This petition shows the strength of feeling about this issue.
"The responses we are getting show there are many decent residents who do the right thing when it comes to their rubbish, but they are being let down by a small minority, who think it is acceptable to leave their rubbish out, or don't care how it is disposed of."
Between April last year and March this year, Hull City Council prosecuted 58 people and issued 33 penalty notices for fly-tipping in the city.
The petition calls specifically for action from the council to remove bins from the public footpath and to take "decisive action" against residents who fly-tip and landlords who "fail to resolve this issue" with their tenants.
The Newland Action Group is leading the campaign following many successful community litter-picking events around the area.
Member Naomi Bedworth said: "This is more about encouraging people rather than being punitive.
"We know some residents are very conscientious but, of nine streets we litter-picked down last week, around half had the problem.
"This is about people having pride in their street. They need encouragement in looking after their area and to bring that pride back."
Fellow ward Councillor John Shipley does not believe a petition is the right approach. He said: "I understand their frustrations because I suffer them myself, but it is down to the residents to look after their bins. It is part of this present culture of 'everything will get sorted by someone else'."
City streetscene manager Andy Burton said: "Residents are encouraged to bring their bin back as soon as they can after it has been emptied to reduce the chance of contamination and theft.
"We do not tolerate fly-tipping and take enforcement action against those who do not respect their neighbourhoods."
