A GROUP of defiant Sidmouth residents are flouting new bin collections rules, which they claim are potentially dangerous and illegal. A number of people living in Temple Street have refused to adhere to East Devon District Council s request to leave their

A GROUP of defiant Sidmouth residents are flouting new bin collections rules, which they claim are potentially dangerous and illegal.

A number of people living in Temple Street have refused to adhere to East Devon District Council's request to leave their new bins at the front of their houses and are continuing to put them at the backdoor.

Philip Weaver, 46, who lives in the street says the new procedure, which was rolled out in June, ignores the 1980 Highways Act and also encourages people to block one of their fire escapes.

He said: "The problem is there is very little space from the front of our properties to the road and we can't leave the bins on the road or pavement because that is in breach of Highways. If we leave any rubbish on the highways we could be charged under the law."

Mr Weaver claims he did not receive a letter from the council but instead found out from a neighbour.

He added: "There wasn't even a consultation with residents, we were just told we had to get on with it."

Another Temple Street resident David Ambrose, 71, complained to the council when he received the council's request.

The retired policeman said: "I told them if I put it at the front I will block the pavement and I will have the police knocking on my door telling me I've caused an obstruction.

"I said if you don't like it, take some action against me and I will fight it."

Another concern for residents is the damage the front-door collections do to the aesthetics of the tourist town.

Mr Weaver said: "The bins are so difficult for people to move to the backs of their houses, so some people are leaving them at the front all of the time."

Mr Ambrose added: "The bins are an eyesore in Temple Street."

In protest to the new rules, Mr Ambrose, Mr Weaver and three other Temple Street householders as well as a Salter's Meadow resident are putting their bins at the back of their properties, which they say have been collected as normal.

An EDDC spokesperson said they are aware of the issues in Temple Street and would be happy to speak to the residents and work with them

He added although the council could not consult every resident before the scheme's implementation, it did consult in 2004 before the Waste Strategy was finalised.