Dawn Barnett says Brighton has become a 'filthy dump'

Conservative Councillor Dawn Barnett said parts of Brighton had missed out, as workers jet washed the city centre to get it ready for the easing of Covid restrictions

Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said he was "disappointed" by the comments that came "at a time when we are coming together as a city to safely welcome visitors back".

Cityclean staff worked through the night on Thursday to wash bins, street furniture, lampposts and pavements along Queens Road, North Street, West Street and parts of Western Road.

This is part of the Green administration's ongoing efforts to clean the city as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Councillor Dawn Barnett said Brighton has become a 'drump'

But councillor Barnett told The Argus: "What about the rest of the city, we are all paying council tax.

"At the end of the day, I would like all of the areas done, that includes Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb, Hangleton and Portslade.

"We all pay council tax and I would like it all done.

"Weeds are growing through the paving slabs and it [the city] wants generally tidying up.

"The whole city is a dump. It is filthy.

"No matter where you go there is chewing gum all over the pavements."

The Hangleton and Knoll councillor said money from cycles lanes and the i360 could have been used to clean city streets.

She said the authority was focusing on parts of the city that vote Green and neglecting areas like Hangleton, Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and Portslade.

Overflowing bins were pictured in Preston Road

Councillor Barnett added: "We all pay council tax. If they didn't waste money and get the money in from the i360 that was owed we would have the money.

"At the end of the day they are wasting all this money on cycle lanes, that is another thing."

• RAED MORE >> Brighton council to 'deep clean' streets ahead of April 12

Monday saw the reopening of non-essential shops and hospitality venues, as well as gyms and other leisure facilities, for the first time since this year.

Hundreds flooded to the city centre to make the most of the easing of restrictions.

Queues snaked along Western Road, Brighton, with eager shoppers waiting to enter Primark.

Councillor Mac Cafferty told The Argus: "Negative comments from councillors hurt our city at a time when Brighton and Hove needs to recover.

"We are clear meanwhile that our focus is on supporting hospitality and retail recovery by providing a tidy, clean city centre to give visitors a warm welcome. "

Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said he was "disappointed" by the comments

He said the city centre was selected for deep cleaning because it has the highest footfall.

And that other areas of the city would be cleaned over the coming year.

Councillor Mac Cafferty added: "Councillor Barnett would do well to raise her concerns with her own party’s government, which has cut funding to local councils over the last decade– and has repeatedly failed to provide a long term solution to the rising costs of adult social care.

"These combined put real pressure on council services, meaning that we just don’t have the resources we need to do as many regular deep cleans as we would like across the city.

“Despite these budget constraints, we are committed to improving our whole city. We’re investing in parks all over the city.

"We’ve put substantially more funding into this year’s budget to clean up the city – something which has been a priority for us since we became the council leadership last July.

"This is already our second deep clean of the city centre – an area selected as it has the highest footfall. We will be doing more of this work over the coming year, including in other areas of the city.”