CEREDIGION says it will be increasing the frequency of rubbish collections at the Castle Grounds in Aberystwyth, following complaints about overflowing bins.

Local residents have complained in recent weeks about overflowing rubbish bins in the castle not being emptied, especially as tourists return to the area.

A spokesperson for the council said: "As lockdown restrictions are eased we are incrementally increasing or reintroducing activities including street cleaning and grass cutting on a prioritised basis when and as it is safe to do so. Our main focus remains keeping our staff and communities safe in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In order to maintain social distancing protocols core services such as domestic waste collections, which along with litter bin emptying have been maintained throughout the lockdown period, require additional resources in terms of vehicles and staff to deliver.

"We review the frequency of litter bin emptying on an ongoing basis which takes in to account the likely use and the resources available. Over the last 10 days we have been increasing bin capacity at some locations and will be increasing the frequency of collections at others which includes the Castle Grounds in Aberystwyth. This work is ongoing and would usually have taken place in advance of Easter but were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will take a little time to reinstate facilities and service levels to those which would usually have been provided.

"As part of Caru Ceredigion, we would ask that the public make proper use of litter bins by only disposing ‘on the go’ litter in them. If a litter bin is full or unavailable then the public are encouraged and expected to take their waste home with them.

"We would like to thank all stakeholders for their understanding and support in having reasonable and realistic expectations at this time and for working with us to keep Ceredigion clean."