THE CLOSE proximity of a bottle bank to a sheltered housing complex in Tavistock is causing problems very early in the morning and late at night, residents this week claimed.

Occupants of St John's Court at Abbey Rise are being disturbed by people using the facility in the Riverside Car Park, which is only 20 metres away from some residents.

They are calling for the bottle bank to be moved to the lower end of the car park.

Tony Newell, who has lived at St John's Court for 18 months, said: 'Sometimes people visit the bottle bank with large quantities of glass bottles very early in the morning and very late at night.

'Most people facing onto the car park get woken up and it is much worse for the people in the nine apartments nearest to the bottle bank.'

A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said: 'The recycling facilities at the Riverside car park used to be situated at the opposite end of the site but were vandalised frequently in that location.

'The recycling banks have been in their current position for several years and the location has proved to be much safer.

'The council also has to consider the needs of disabled motorists and relocating the recycling facilities could reduce the number of disabled parking bays available at the other end of the site.

'The vast majority of people wishing to recycle use the bottle banks between 7am and 11pm but the council would be interested to hear if the facilities are being used outside these times on a regular basis.

'The council is keen to encourage as many people as possible to use its recycling facilities — but would urge anyone using the bottle banks to be considerate of the residents living nearby.'