PLANS to wheel in bulky new bins and alternate week rubbish collections have been met with concern by householders.

In a bid to increase the amount of waste recycled, from October Salisbury District Council is scrapping its weekly bag collection and giving almost every property two 180-litre plastic bins.

One will be for household waste and the other for recyclable plastic and cardboard, which will be collected alongside the existing black boxes for recycling glass, paper, cans and textiles.

Each bin will be emptied on alternate weeks.

But residents, and particularly those living in the city centre, have a long list of concerns about the scheme, which they fear will be unsightly, confusing, unhygienic and difficult to manage.

Wheelie bin worries were raised at a recent meeting of Milford Preservation Society which was attended by more than 100 people. Some residents feared they would not have room for two large bins in their gardens, while others said they would be hard to handle on slopes or steps.

Concerns were also raised that two weeks' household waste would become smelly and attract flies and rats, while others said the bins were ugly and far too large.

"I have 23 steps to my front door - how am I supposed to manage these enormous bins on my own?" said one Fowlers Road resident.

"I don't have room in my garden to store them and I'm worried people could dump anything in them.

"For many people, especially those living in Victorian properties within the city, this scheme is simply not appropriate."

City councillors are asking the council to consider offering a selection of bin sizes so residents can be offered smaller, lighter bins which are easier to manage. They have also requested householders with tricky access to their homes or physical difficulties are allowed to continue using bags, and wheelie bins are not introduced in streets where they could cause obstructions.

"There is a lot of concern, and even distress amongst some residents, surrounding the wheelie bin scheme," said councillor Ian Tomes.

"The council must be flexible in its approach, and take residents' needs into account."

The council says wheelie bins are an important step towards meeting recycling targets, and preparations are being made for a publicity campaign and dedicated helpline to tackle concerns.

"Environmental services staff are currently surveying all properties to establish which addresses would be unsuitable for wheeled bins," said a spokesman.

"Anyone having difficulty moving the new bins should contact us and we will send an officer to establish whether an assisted collection is appropriate."