Residents in a Buckinghamshire town have hit out at the placement of a ‘monstrous’ compactor bin next to a Grade II listed war memorial.

A compactor bin designed to collect data about rubbish input was temporarily installed on The Causeway in Marlow last week by the South West Chilterns Community Board and has caused a near-immediate backlash from residents in the town.

The bin, which electronically informs Buckinghamshire Council when it has reached maximum capacity, has drawn flak from those who noticed it over the last few days centrally because of its placement next to the Grade II listed war memorial on The Causeway, a monument that dates back over 100 years.

Simon Walters, a political journalist who lives in Marlow, told the Free Press that he thought the new installation was a “monstrosity” which was misplaced beside the “beautiful” war memorial.

He added: “It beggars’ belief that anyone could think this is appropriate. It even has a flashing blue light which reflects on the memorial in the evening.

“By all means, have a rubbish bin – but not where it ruins one of the most dignified and prettiest parts of the town.”

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Michael New OBE, a long-time resident and trustee of the Marlow Society, reaffirmed these views, stating that he believed the new bin “desecrates the view of the Cenotaph”, even comparing its blue flashing light and activation noises to a Dalek, the fictional mutant from BBC’s Doctor Who.

Not everyone was opposed, however, with Jacob Lowe, who lives in Bourne End, reasoning that he would “prefer (the bin) to the area being littered” and “with shops and the kebab van right next to it, (The Causeway) is a prime littering spot”.

Emma Hawkins, who volunteers with the Marlow Wombles litter-picking group, followed a similar line of thought in a post sharing the news of the bin’s installation on the Wombles Facebook page.

She wrote: “On Marlow Market days, the bin on The Causeway is overflowing with takeaway packaging. I know because I clean up (around it). Most bins get filled with air so can’t fit much in. A compactor will take more rubbish.”

A spokesperson for Marlow Town Council confirmed that the bin was only a temporary fixture and is unrelated to the council’s plans for a £15k improvement project of The Causeway, announced at the beginning of the year.

Buckinghamshire Council was contacted for comment.