Residents of The Ravens in Ventnor are facing mounting waste problems following the partial collapse of the Ravenscourt building at the beginning of 2025.
Since the incident, the Isle of Wight council’s refuse collection service has been unable to access the site, leaving household bins overflowing.
The build-up of waste has not only become an eyesore, but is also raising serious health concerns.
Council cites health and safety concerns
The Isle of Wight council has been made aware of the situation, but has stated that the inability to collect the rubbish is due to health and safety concerns for refuse collection crews.
Residents, however, are frustrated by the lack of action and believe alternative arrangements should have been implemented sooner.
One resident at The Ravens told OnTheWight,
“Surely if they had acted promptly this situation would not have happened.”
Calls for alternative collection solutions
Residents have suggested interim solutions that could alleviate the problem.
The same resident explained,
“We currently use large industrial-style bins. Could we have similar placed elsewhere or perhaps we could have wheelie bins in a location where the council employees have access, e.g., the industrial estate or the bottom of the exit road at The Ravens?
“It can’t be that difficult to organise an alternative that should have been addressed weeks ago.”
Overflowing bins and recycling disruptions
There are 15 homes at The Ravens, which usually have two large recycling bins, one large general waste bin, and two wheelie bins—one for food waste and another for paper.
Given the lack of collections, these bins have filled up quickly, leaving residents struggling to manage their waste properly.
A resident further explained the impact:
“We are unable to recycle properly as our food waste now has to be put in with the general waste, which is overflowing and has been for some time now.
“When the fencing was erected, only one recycling bin and the general waste bin were moved. The other bins remain within the fenced-off area of the partially collapsed building.”
Local councillor steps in
Residents have contacted the Isle of Wight council’s waste department, flagging the growing waste hazard.
Residents report that local councillor, Rodney Downer, has been very helpful and is trying to get a resolution, but they remain frustrated that the council has not yet implemented alternative waste collection arrangements.
With concerns over hygiene and the continued build-up of rubbish, residents are urging the council to act swiftly to resolve the issue.
OnTheWight has also been in touch with the council to ask when alternative arrangements will be put in place.
