A HOTELIER who has been in Weston for 40 years has spoken out against the possibility of fortnightly bin collections by North Somerset Council.

A HOTELIER who has been in Weston for 40 years has spoken out against the possibility of fortnightly bin collections by North Somerset Council.

Rosemary Moncrieff, of Aparthotel Timbertop, in Victoria Park, says rubbish left strewn around her property is putting off potential guests and also that proposals to axe money from the tourism budget could damage her business.

She said: "I am paying £18,000 a year in rates for our properties and I haven't had a personal collection for 20 years, but I have three commercial bins to pay for.

"Now they are talking about fortnightly collections.

"Seagulls go for the mess and pick open the bins. Rubbish lies everywhere in the street.

"With the proposals to axe tourism support services and filthy roads and pavements how long can we survive in business without guests?"

Last week councillors unveiled plans to review the tourism budget.

And Conservative members distributed leaflets last week refuting claims made in a front page story in the Weston & Somerset Mercury which stated from 2010 onwards councillors would consider fortnightly rubbish collections.

The assertion, which was on the executive agenda for this week's meeting, was re-worded by the council.

Carl Francis Pester, executive member for environment, said he had no further comment to make on the matter last week.