Huge skip has been left abandoned on my driveway for WEEKS – now I’m stuck in row to remove it… it’s an absolute joke
A HOMEOWNER is considering taking legal action to try to get a skip shifted off his drive.
Peter Critchley paid £200 to hire the skip from Staffordshire Waste Recycling Centre, in Longport, “for a day”, he says.
But more than month later it remains stuck on his Norton driveway.
It comes as Staffordshire Waste Recycling Centre has had its general waste permit suspended by the Environment Agency since April.
Peter, 42, StokeonTrentLive: “We were just having a good clear out. We were getting some stuff out of our old wardrobes and having a good spring clean.
“We found we actually had quite a bit to get rid of so we hired a skip for the weekend.
“We literally only needed it for the day because everything was already in the back garden, ready to go.
“I rang them to pick it up and they said ‘Yeah no problem’.
“It didn’t happen that day, but I thought, ‘Oh fair enough, the weekend’s coming up. It’ll be Monday or Tuesday’.
“And then I just heard nothing.”
Peter struggles to walk due to a neurological disorder. He says the situation has taken a physical and financial toll on his everyday life.
“It’s been an absolute nightmare,” he explained. “I can’t walk very far so I need my drive.
“I can’t plug in my electric car. I’m having to pay four times as much to charge it at a public charging point.
“Some days now I’m having to get my wheelchair out just to get up my drive.
“But I should be able to just get out of my car and walk into my own house without having to do that.
“It’s just an absolute joke. I am looking into whether it’s worth getting solicitors involved. Because the cost is just ridiculous.
“I’ve paid £200 to have a skip for a day and now I’m having to fork out £20 a week extra recharging my car. How am I going to get reimbursed for all this.”
Its website states: “There may be delays in skip collections until further notice.
“We kindly ask that customers continue to work with us for skip collections, as arranging alternative disposal or third-party operators may lead to complications, including potential legal ramifications.
“Your patience and cooperation during this time is greatly appreciated and we are committed to restoring full operations as soon as possible while ensuring compliance with all regulations.”
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “Staffordshire Waste Recycling Centre is storing more waste than is authorised by the conditions of its environmental permit and in a manner that poses a serious risk of pollution.
“We have therefore suspended one of the company’s two environmental permits and are taking action to encourage the company to keep the amount of waste it stores within acceptable limits.”
The Sun has approached Staffordshire Waste Recycling Centre for comment.