COUNCIL chiefs could fine businesses for leaving rubbish out on city centre streets overnight as part of new proposals.
Worcester City Council is looking to crack down on the volume of trade waste currently left overnight in the city centre, which can act as a magnet for gulls and other vermin.
The Labour cabinet will be debating the policy at their next meeting on Tuesday (September 13) and, if adopted, businesses will only be allowed to leave trade waste out for collection between 6am and 9.30am.
Under the policy if rubbish isn’t collected within that time frame then businesses must store the rubbish until the next collection. Businesses that fail to do so will then be visited by a council officer who will give advice.
And, if businesses fail to comply again, then they will be fined £60 to be paid within 10 days or £100 within two weeks.
Council chiefs hope the crackdown will ensure the city centre is free of rubbish during prime daytime shopping hours and in the evening.
Coun Jabba Riaz, Cabinet Member for Clean and Green Leisure Services, said: “Ensuring Worcester’s city centre remains attractive is a key objective for this Council, and reducing the times when refuse can be left out for collection is an important step towards achieving this.
“We have openly consulted with Worcester’s business community on these proposals, and will continue to work with individual businesses to resolve any issues they foresee if the policy is adopted.”
