A north Wales shopkeeper was in disbelief when two workers arrived to transform a bin next to his shop. David Marsden, who runs the Siop Newydd convenience store and garden on Pentraeth Road, Menai Bridge, was surprised by the “designer flaps” on the bins.
Marsden said workers said the flaps were designed to keep seagulls out and to prevent debris from being blown away by the wind. However, he was not convinced this was necessary, reports North Wales Live.
“I didn't know this was a problem. I've never had a problem with seagulls. The bins are emptied every morning, so they're never full. If you use clean plastic, it doesn't bother you too much. However, the material is dirty and the bin flaps are unsightly and an eyesore,” he said.
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Intrigued, Mr Marsden decided to investigate further and discovered that other bins in town had been tampered with as well. One such bin, located just down the road from his shop, has already attracted the attention of local residents, who lamented on social media that it was an eyesore right in front of their house.
The arrival of the workers and their unexpected mission surprised everyone. “They came in a truck and unloaded what looked like used plastic sheets,” Marsden said.
“They measured and cut the material into strips and screwed them into the trash can. One of them got a pair of scissors and cut a fringe on each strip.”
Marsden's photos seem to indicate that the material is probably some type of fabric rather than plastic. One woman who saw the image joked on Facebook: “Has anyone lost their jeans?”
Some locals are baffled by the new bin curtains, while others have called them “shocking”, “ridiculous” and “a complete joke”. While some realists hold out hope that they will “serve a purpose,” many see them as a “waste of money.”
Menaibridge Town Council (Cyngor Tref Porthaethwy) has clarified that it is not involved. Anglesey City Council acknowledged the efforts but stressed the solution was only a band-aid.
A city spokesperson said: “We are aware of the work being carried out at the Menai Bridge as a temporary measure. We will re-visit the area as soon as a more suitable solution is available.” did.
Mr Marsden said the workers were employees of waste management company Bifa, which has been working with the local authority since 2007. The council praised the partnership when a new eight-year £40m contract was signed in 2021, saying: He helped make Anglesey's streets and beaches “one of the best in Wales”.
Local residents are divided over the makeshift bin curtains. Some believe these are unnecessary solutions to a problem that doesn't exist, while others believe they are beneficial, particularly in preventing Anglesey red squirrels from being trapped, but are not being implemented sufficiently. Some people feel that way.
Seagulls are a common sight in coastal towns, and Menai Bridge is no exception. However, it is not viewed with the same level of concern here as along the main coast of North Wales.
Siop Newydd is more than half a mile inland, and one resident commented: “I've never seen seagulls attack bins along Pentraes Road.''
That said, there have been instances of seagulls breaking into trash cans, like one unfortunate bird spotted at the nearby Menai Bridge Skate Park. Seagulls are believed to have gotten in through the broken lids, although the closed-top bins on Pentraes Street are generally more effective at keeping seagulls out.
One local resident suggested a simpler solution. “They can only eat what falls out of a full garbage can,” they said. “The city council should empty the bins more often…”