HUNDREDS of bins are being removed from York’s streets to save money – but the move has drawn criticism.

The city council agreed in its February budget to reduce the number of public litter bins to save money emptying and maintaining them, and has been removing the unwanted ones in the past few days.

A council spokeswoman said the reduction would save the council £40,000 a year and said 350 bins were being removed from residential areas outside the city centre.

She said those being axed were either underused, too near other bins, or used mostly for household or commercial waste.

The Press understands about a quarter of all bins are being removed, but the council would not confirm the percentage being removed.

Coun Carol Runciman, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “One of the biggest concerns of local residents already is litter and dog fouling. When these bins are cut, it is very likely that these problems will get a lot worse.

“These cuts follow the city centre cuts and will leave residents questioning how Labour can find money for free Wi-Fi schemes, but cannot provide the basic frontline services that residents need.”

Former council leader Steve Galloway criticised the lack of consultation or prior warning.

He said: “It is an extra-ordinary way of cutting an important street level public service. Many of the remaining bins are already full to overflowing.”

Coun Sandy Fraser, Labour’s cabinet member for environmental services, said it was a difficult decision to balance an “ever-diminishing budget”.

“We have chosen to prioritise areas like adult social care and measures to promote new jobs in the city because this is what we believe the public places the highest value on.”

A council spokeswoman said: “It’s important to note that we will review cleanliness standards following removal and if necessary a bin may be put back if monitoring shows this is required. However, as resources have been reduced to achieve the budget savings, this will be an exception.”

The council refused to disclose the list of where bins had been removed, or to provide a ward-by-ward breakdown.