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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kim Horton & Alison Brinkworth & Charlie Duffield

Pensioner 'disgusted' after bin lorry hits her car then leaves without taking rubbish

A pensioner has been left furious after a bin lorry crashed into her Nissan Qashqai car, before driving off without taking her rubbish away.

Rosemary Clark from Tewkesbury, Worcestershire, was outraged when a neighbour told her about the smashed up vehicle.

The 71-year-old said the collision took place when the driver of the Ubico lorry was managing a manoeuvre in her narrow street on the Gloucestershire border.

Her Nissan car was so bashed up that her mobility scooter could not be retrieved from inside.

Mrs Clark said she went outside first thing to find the bin man writing a note in Roman Way to explain what had happened.

But she was left annoyed that they didn't empty her bins before leaving, Gloucestershire Live reported.

A Tewkesbury Council spokesperson has said the bin men weren't allowed to empty any more bins after the crash due to its health and safety rules.

A Tewkesbury Council spokesperson has said the bin men weren't allowed to empty any more bins after the crash due to its health and safety rules (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The back of her Nissan Qashqai was left severely dented in the collision while the damage to the boot prevented Rosemary from accessing the mobility scooter.

She expects to be without a car for up to four weeks as parts needed are difficult to source due to Brexit.

Mrs Clark said: “At about 8.10am I had a knock at the door and my neighbour said to me there was a problem with my car. I saw the driver of the bin lorry filling out a card.

"He said to me the other guys should have been guiding him back when he was reversing but they were up the road," adding: “They drove off before the bins were emptied, too.”

"I don't understand why they came down such a narrow road. It is a very narrow entrance and the road leads up to the parish church.”

Angry Mrs Clark continued: “Needless to say I had to make a lot of phone calls that day.

"I am absolutely disgusted by what happened. Anyone seeing the road should know you can not access it to collect the bins.

“The men normally park on Ancell Drive and run up to collect the bins.

"I do not know why they changed what they did that day because it is a road which is only for 7.5 tonne vehicles.

"My scooter was stuck in the car. It was a good job I had my stick as I say because I would be on the floor."

Ubico are employed by Tewkesbury Borough Council to carry out waste collections in the village of Brockworth. The council said the refuse collectors were unable to continue with rubbish collections following the incident.

Tewkesbury Borough Council’s head of community services, Peter Tonge, said: “We are aware of the incident that took place in Roman Way on Monday and we are currently investigating as a matter of urgency.

"Following the incident with the parked car, the crew was unable to continue with its rounds until the collection vehicle had been inspected for damage, as per their safety protocols.

"A catch-up collection took place on Wednesday, July 13. Our contractors at Ubico place the utmost importance on the health and safety of both the public and their crews.

"We have strict measures in place aimed at preventing such incidents, and work hard to ensure these procedures are followed at all times.”

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