Porthleven ‘seagull proof’ rubbish sacks trial (From Falmouth Packet)

Porthleven ‘seagull proof’ rubbish sacks trial

11:10am Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News

Four streets that will trial a new ‘seagull proof’ rubbish sack in Porthleven have been revealed.

Residents of Thomas Street, Thomas Terrace, Bickford Crescent and Holmans Place will be given the bags after Porthleven Town Council supported the port’s involvement in the trial.

The sacks, which will be provided free of charge by Cornwall Council , are designed to hold bin bags.

It is claimed they are made of a special material that will prevent seagulls, rats and other animals from getting inside to the rubbish.

They will be judged on how well they deter seagulls and how easy they are to fill and empty, with residents asked to complete a questionnaire at the end of the trial period. If successful the sacks could be made available throughout the county.

The scheme was put to Porthleven’s town councillors last Thursday and received overwhelming support.

In the past members have complained about the amount of rubbish left lying in Porthleven’s streets and have attempted to resolve the issue on a number of occasions, even creating leaflets and posters deterring people from attracting the seagulls by feeding them.

Writing on his blog after the meeting, town and Cornwall Councillor Andy Wallis said: “This is something that I have been working on for months and I am now very pleased it is starting. These bags will hold two or three black bag and I am told are completely seagull proof if used correctly.

“The town council is fully supportive of this trial and has helped me decide on the streets who will be part of the trial.”

He said 300 houses – from Porthleven and the other trial areas of Looe, Newquay, Polperro and St Austell – would be taking part and if successful the bags could be rolled out throughout Cornwall, although not necessarily for free.

“One of the ideas is if Cornwall Council uses its buying power to buy thousands of them they can then sell them on at cost to the town and parish councils, who could either give them away for free, recover the basic costs, or add a small percentage onto the cost of the bags to help pay for other green projects,” he explained.

Mr Wallis said he still could not understand why people could not buy a cheap dustbin, but added: “Maybe these easy to fold away bags will overcome people’s reluctance to buy a dustbin.”

Details on how the trial will work will be delivered to those areas taking part within the week.