Council 'discriminatory' as Hollingbury bins not emptied

Kathy Cooper was visiting her son in Hollingbury, Brighton, but was horrified to find nearby communal bins had been “left for weeks on end”.

The recycling point in Woodbourne Avenue overlooks a picturesque golf course with views towards the sea.

But the view was ruined on Sunday as waste could be seen spilling out from the bins.

Kathy said there was “blatant discrimination” as “elite” areas of the city are given “more attention”.

Hundreds of glass bottle strewn across the recycling point

“Brighton and Hove City Council should be ashamed of themselves - both for their clear ineptitude at providing a basic service and for continuing to rip off their residents by charging excessive council tax rates,” she said.

“Don’t get me started on the weed ridden pavements and unmown verges.

“I found it interesting to observe that the more elite areas of your city appear to have had more care given to their pavements and verges, and rubbish collected. Appalling double standards.”

Kathy said the bin store was infested with rats and “so dry that it is a potential fire hazard”.

One end of the “dangerous” recycling point was packed with large boxes while the other was a sea of carrier bags and plastic bottles.

“It’s rat-infested, certainly. I saw two in the depths of the store,” she said.

“We drove up through a number of estates between Hove seafront, across town, and up to Hollingbury and it was very clear that the more affluent areas were well cared for.”

Kathy said the “disregard” for some areas of Brighton and Hove warrants a new city council.

Cardboard bins overflowing and boxes on the ground

But the city council has hit back at the discrimination claims.

“No areas have been given preferential treatment in any way,” a spokesman said.

“We’re very sorry about the poor state of the Woodbourne Avenue recycling site. 

“We will be getting it cleared as soon as possible. 

“The issues with weeds in pavements this summer have been city-wide. The work we have been doing to tackle this has been city-wide as well.”