RESIDENTS in Lawn are calling for their recycling bins to be replaced.

The bins in the Lawn Community Centre car park in Guildford Avenue were removed after a public meeting.

But local residents some of whom do not have recycling collections from their houses want them back.

Fay le Coyte, of Cleeve Lawns, collected more than 300 signatures on a petition to hand to their local councillor and Swindon Council leader Mike Bawden.

Ms le Coyte said: "They have been there for 25 years in that part of the area and used to the extent that they could have been emptied more frequently."

A meeting was held but Ms le Coyte said it was not well advertised and most people did not know the recycling bins would be discussed. A vote taken at the meeting was in favour of removing the bins, which were for bottles, tins, clothing and papers.

"So one day people turn up and there are no bins," Ms le Coyte added.

"It is an area where there is a high percentage of retired, elderly people. A lot of people are not able to go elsewhere. We have papers collected, but residents on Marlborough Road do not.

Ms le Coyte wants the council to hold another meeting, well publicised, to discuss replacing the bins as she said she only found seven people who refused to sign her petition.

Coun Bawden said the council removed the bins after a nearly unanimous vote at the public meeting.

He said he would happily revisit the issue but that it was difficult because whenever a site was suggested, the residents in the immediate area opposed the plan.