Trader battles tide of trash

Terry Goldsmith, owner of Kiwis restaurant in Bedford Row, Worthing, is fighting an ongoing battle to improve rubbish collections in the street. Mr Goldsmith says the council only tends to clear the top of the bins if they are overflowing.

He also has concerns about the rubbish putting customers off and attracting seagulls and rats.

He said: "I try to keep the sides and back of the restaurant as clear from the rubbish as possible. It's not very nice to find all this at your back door. I am the only retail premises in the area and it is not good for my business."

Four bins sit in Marine Place at the back of Kiwis '“ one used by the restaurant and the others by nearby flats. Across the road are several more bins, with rubbish spilling out and bin bags all over the pavement.

Mr Goldsmith said: "There should be a more frequent collection. The council were good after Christmas but as soon as the summer season comes closer they seem to forget about us. Whichever way you come towards my restaurant you can see the rubbish."

Paul Kempsell, head of contract services at the council, said a litter collector went out daily and any substantial rubbish spotted would be cleared away as soon as possible.

He said: "We pick up from the site by agreement once a week. All sorts of rubbish is dumped there. Various other people offload some of their rubbish '“ it is an ongoing problem.

"Ideally we need someone down there all the time, but this is not possible. There is a cost to the council involved in this. We do the best we can.

"If there is a real problem in that area, then the cleansing manager will let me know and we will clean it."

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