The Household Refuse collection day in the centre of Bath is going to be changed so that all rubbish is collected on the same day - Thursday.

The change is being introduced to improve the tidiness and cleanliness of the City even more following the enforcement of trade waste collections. This has seen the banishment of commercial refuse from streets in the city except during permitted times.

"We are hoping to make Bath rubbish free for six and a half days a week" explained Matthew Smith, Head of Direct Services. "Every household and property affected by this change will be sent a letter about the change of collection day. We hope that it will remove the unsightly rubbish bags from the streets and prevent them spilling rubbish over the streets and thereby discourage others from dropping litter."

The simplification of the system will help the Council to apply the regulations of the Environment Protection Act which provides for action to be taken where rubbish is left out on the wrong day or at the wrong time.

The new collection day will start on Thursday 6^th April. Normal collections will be made from Friday 31 March to Wednesday 5^th April, with an additional collection on the Thursday. Subsequent collections will be each Thursday and rubbish is to be placed out before 7.00am to allow it to be collected by 10.00am. Residents are asked to put refuse on the road kerbside so that it is not blocking pavements causing a hazard to pavement users, including the partially sighted.

This change affects roads in the 'heritage' centre of Bath broadly within the ring created by Charlotte Street, Charles Street, and Green Park Road to the west; Broad Quay, Dorchester Street, Manvers Street, Grand Parade, Northgate Street and Walcot Street to the south and east; and George Street, The Circus, Royal Crescent and Queens Parade to the north. All residents affected will receive a letter detailing the changes.

This initiative is part of B&NES' performance plan promise for cleaner streets, especially within urban areas. Rubbish bags on the street was given as one reason why Bath came second in "Britains' Cleanest City" competition last year rather then winning.

Matthew Smith, Head of Direct Services. Tel: (01225) 396558

Trevor Cummings, Enforcement Team Manager. Tel: (01225) 310080

Julia Dean, Press Officer, Guildhall, Bath. Tel: (01225) 477827

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