I AM a resident of the Leeman Road area. We live in terraced houses normally with two bedrooms, no hall or landing and no front, side or rear garden.

The council officials are expecting us to move rubbish through our small kitchens and then through our living rooms to place on the pavement at the front of our properties.

My three-seat settee would have to be moved every week to do this, and if I had a new carpet I would be very worried about leaks and dripping water after rain; our houses are too small to easily store rubbish and recycling boxes indoors.

The obvious answer is to collect from the rear of properties. There may be problems with this – but systems are man-made and can be changed. Hundreds of people in this area are rightly very angry.

Things are further complicated with recently gated alleys, which most people did not vote for. I personally know of half a dozen people who cannot even lift their sacks or boxes over kitchen furniture.

The situation is a shambles and needs addressing with the residents’ needs to the fore.

Mr B Roberts, Stamford Street East, Leeman Road, York.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: “Stamford Street East is part of a recent alley gating scheme so waste collection crews no longer have access to the rear of the properties to collect rubbish.

“Consultation work carried out in the street notified residents of a potential change to waste collections if the security gates be installed. There was a majority vote for the gates.

“The council’s policy is to collect from the front of the property wherever possible. This reduces the risk of damage to property, pedestrians and vehicles driving or reversing down narrow lanes. Collecting from the front of the property is more accessible and much quicker and safer.

“Recycling collections in Stamford Street East have always been made from the front of properties with few issues and this will continue. Residents have been notified that for now, rubbish collections will be made from a central collection point located at the end of the street rather than from the front of their properties. This means that residents can take their rubbish through the back lane to the central collection point.

“While we try to make adjustments wherever we can, it is not possible to provide bespoke services for different property types. For residents unable to comply with new collection arrangements, however, the council will consider making a special dispensation for reasons of age or disability. We can also provide a storage bin for keeping bags dry and secure between rubbish collections.”