Norwich City Council has apologised to people living in a city estate for the “absolute mess” of the communal bins.

The authority was blamed for the overflowing bins in Knowland Grove, which neighbours say is due to the removal of CCTV cameras that had been put up to stop fly-tipping in the area.

They also hit out at the council for not collecting the rubbish for weeks with local Ashley Waterfield describing it as an “absolute mess”.

But the council said the waste wasn’t collected due to “non-domestic rubbish” being dumped at the site.

The communal bins in Knowland Grove are said to not have been cleared for weeksThe communal bins in Knowland Grove are said to not have been cleared for weeks (Image: Green Party)

A Norwich City Council spokeswoman said: "We apologise that the communal bins at Knowland Grove have not been emptied.

"Communal bins are for domestic rubbish only and the rubbish crews are not able to empty non-domestic rubbish.

"This bin has been filled with wood - what looks like a demolished shed.

READ MORE: CCTV removed by council sees increase in fly-tipping at communal bins

"This is waste that should be taken to a recycling depot and not placed in a communal bin, which then prevents other residents from using it, causing bags to get left on the ground as there is no capacity."

Local Green Party councillor Toby Boltont pointing to where the CCTV for the area was installed, which is no longer thereLocal Green Party councillor Toby Boltont pointing to where the CCTV for the area was installed, which is no longer there (Image: Green Party)

It also added that the CCTV overlooking the bins was "trialled" and a new camera is due to be put up soon. 

READ MORE: Drink driver who crashed into family's garden pleads guilty in court
 
The council added: "As part of our Love Norwich campaign we erected CCTV in fly-tipping hot spots in order to identify the perpetrators and reduce the amount of fly-tipping which is dumped illegally.

"We have written to everyone about our programme to install CCTV in their area.

"As part of this initiative, we trialled one of the CCTV cameras at Knowland Grove, a camera is now going to be installed in Marlpit Lane as part of the roll out."

The bins are located only a street away from Gristock Place which faced the same problems a week ago.

Norwich City Council said the bin has been filled with wood - what looks like a demolished shed - causing an issueNorwich City Council said the bin has been filled with wood - what looks like a demolished shed - causing an issue (Image: Green Party)