Around 200 households across the borough who have failed to comply with “bring your bin in” notices are set to receive a final written reminder.Under the clampdown aimed at de-cluttering pavements and making streets safe and look nicer those who have so far ignored polite requests and legal notices face a fixed penalty of �80.

Around 200 households across the borough who have failed to comply with “bring your bin in” notices are set to receive a final written reminder.

Under the clampdown aimed at de-cluttering pavements and making streets safe and look nicer those who have so far ignored polite requests and legal notices face a fixed penalty of �80.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is now asking residents one more time to ensure their bins are placed within their property and not on the street on any other day than collection day - but is keen to work with households if there is a genuine storage problem.

Waste and recycling communications officer Lisa Crook, said: “We have tried our absolute best to convince some residents that leaving bins out on the highway presents a risk to other residents and visitors alike, but it appears that this message has not been acted upon in some areas. We are now looking to enforcement procedures to resolve these issues. Left out in the street, wheeled bins can be a temptation for anti-social behaviour and residents can be held liable for any accidents or damage to property involving their wheeled bin if it is left out in public on any other day than the designated collection day. It really is in residents' best interests to make sure bins are safe and secure.”

Councillor Sue Hacon added: “We are still receiving many complaints about bins left out in public from many streets in Great Yarmouth. They cause an obstruction for those using prams and mobility scooters, attract inappropriate items from passers-by which increases Great Yarmouth's waste contamination rate but most importantly, wheeled bins left out on the highway have been identified as a fire hazard and some have already been set alight. This is a clear safety issue much must be addressed now.”

Every household in the borough received a leaflet before Christmas informing them of the legal obligation to keep waste within private property. Under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990, the maximum offence upon summary conviction for this offence is a fine not exceeding �1,000.

Environmental services manager Simon Mutten, said: “It will be disappointing if we have to issue many fixed penalty notices to households, particularly considering we have been reminding residents of their legal obligations since before Christmas. Recourse to enforcement procedures and fines really is a last resort, and we still want to work with residents to find solutions to storage issues.

“If you receive a final written warning from the council next week and are having problems storing your bins within private property, please call us as soon as possible on 01493 846409. We want to help.”