CHANGING Ceredigion’s refuse collection and street cleaning services could see repeats of the bank holiday weekend when Aberystwyth’s streets were strewn with rubbish, it has been warned.

The week following the bank holiday saw confusion over refuse collections with dozens of bin bags left on the streets and rubbish being scattered across the streets during the period of good weather in half-term week.

That has led to warnings that if the council agrees to cut street cleaning and privatise the county’s refuse collection service, proposals put forward by PricewaterhouseCooper, that problems with refuse wouldn’t be addressed in future.

Aberystwyth resident John Evans took a series of photos of rubbish scattered across streets in the town after black bags were left out on the wrong day. Mr Evans insisted that any cuts to street cleaning could be disastrous.

He said: “The photos clearly indicate that Ceredigion council is still not dealing with our refuse crisis. The council is still wasting public money clearing up the mess created by the black plastic bin liner collection system rather than preventing this litter being created in the first place.

“It is also worrying that Ceredigion has been advised by PWC to cut this budget by 30 per cent. I am hoping this might put pressure on the council to adopt a seagull-proof collection system as used by more progressive councils with seaside resorts.”

Mr Evans was backed by Aberystwyth councillor Ceredig Davies.

He said: “What is obvious from the condition of our streets over the bank holiday is the utter foolishness of the position taken by the Cabinet member for technical services, Cllr Alun Williams, in supporting the recommendations made by PwC that cuts could be made to Aberystwyth’s refuse and street cleaning service.”

A council spokesperson said that no decision on whether to follow the PwC proposals had been made and that the council was in talks to avoid problems in the future.

The spokesperson said: “Over the bank holiday weekend refuse collections have been provided as advertised, and resources from both the street cleaning and waste collection services have been prioritised as necessary to respond to issues as they arise.

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