THE scrapping of weekly bin collections is continuing to cause a stink in the Borders.

But now a new group set up in Galashiels hopes to take a fresh approach to addressing the problem.

Community Youth Voice (CYV), which is made up of young people aged between 11 and 25, has asked Scottish Borders Council for more information on recycling with the hope of educating residents in Langlee and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

It follows complaints that, since the local authority decided to empty bins only once a fortnight in a bid to save money, tenants in a block of flats in Beech Avenue were being forced to keep their windows closed to block out the “horrendous smell” of overflowing bins which, it was claimed, are spilling out onto the street and attracting rodents.

CYV revealed the loss of weekly bin collections ranked high among residents’ concerns after conducting a door-to-door survey on how to improve their community.

Speaking at this month’s meeting of Langlee Residents Association (LRA), Kerry Scott, a youth development worker leading the group’s first project, said: “I could smell it and it wasn’t even at its worst - it’s worse in the summer.”

The meeting heard the community had campaigned for Beech Avenue to become the only area of the Borders to retain a weekly bin collection - and was almost successful.

But LRA vice-chairman Gerry Moss revealed the communal bins put out in their place were being used as a skip.

It was suggested that Waverley Housing, who own many of the flats, could set aside a garage to store bins in the weeks they are not collected. But members heard this already happened.

“The council’s argument is the reason the bins are full is because Beech Avenue doesn’t recycle - the food bins are not being used,” Mr Moss said. “The caretakers do help to tidy the place up, they do the best they can, but it’s not enough.”

Sitting in on the meeting was Scottish Borders Council’s depute leader, Councillor John Mitchell, who represents Galashiels and District on the local authority. He claimed “it could be worse” as Falkirk Council, he said, only emptied bins once every four weeks.

However, he agreed to help set up talks between CYV and council chiefs to ensure the voice of the young people is heard.