Gran has had full skip on her driveway for three months – and can’t do a thing about it

A grandmother has cancelled her holiday because of a skip stuck on her driveway for three months.

Ann Espley, 76, said the full waste container she ordered in March while renovating her home has still not been taken away.

She and her husband John have said the ‘absolute nightmare’ means they have to park their car on the road, while their son parks on their neighbour’s drive.

The couple, who live in Longton, Staffordshire, decided not to go away so they wouldn’t need to leave their car unattended.

Ann’s plumber ordered the container while he was doing work on her bathrooms.

She said: ‘I phoned the council and they told me there’s nothing they can do. We can’t do anything about it ourselves, otherwise, we’ll get in trouble.

She added: ‘Our son’s friend has had one of their skips stuck on his drive since January. At this rate, it’ll still be here at Christmas.’

The grandmother said the mess was driving her ‘mental’ after having been forced to cancel her first holiday since the pandemic.

To make matters worse, the couple have to work together to lift their regular waste bins over the dumpster on collection days.

‘Every day when we go out, we say ‘Will it be gone or will it still be there?’ And it’s still there every time’, she said.

The Environment Agency suspended the waste permit of their local recycling centre in Longport.

Staffordshire Waste Recycling Centre said it was making ‘good progress’ in resolving its permit suspension, but that customers still face delays in skip removals.

It said: ‘Due to ongoing industry-wide challenges across the UK, we are currently unable to accept general waste, and there may be delays in skip collections until further notice. Other recycling services remain available.

‘We kindly ask that customers continue to work with us for skip collections, as arranging alternative disposal or third-party operators may lead to complications, including potential legal ramifications.

‘Your patience and cooperation during this time are greatly appreciated, and we are committed to restoring full operations as soon as possible while ensuring compliance with all regulations.

‘For any questions or updates, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.’

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