75537-14OLD Town traders are furious after their rubbish was not collected for three weeks and say that the mess has attracted rats.

In spite of numerous calls to Swindon council the bags of commercial waste piled up in the alleyway between the Old Town Caf and Halliday Art Gallery.

Janet Halliday-Strong from Halliday Art Gallery, Devizes Road, said she had seen rats in the area since the rubbish had been rotting.

She said: "It's an absolute disgrace. It's been there for three weeks and the wind keeps blowing it all into the road and there's rats about now.

"We pay our business rates and then as a separate charge we have to pay for the commercial waste to be collected.

"I've reported it to the council three times but they just say they weren't aware of it. It's an absolute eyesore."

Diane Lowe, manager of Pizza Express, in Bath Road, said: "It's a health hazard it really is. You can't possibly live in an area like this with all these restaurants around here and not have rubbish collection.

"It's attracted vermin. We've had to get people in to see to it.

"I'm not very happy at all and speaking to other local people they are not happy either. Old Town looks a disgrace. Anybody visiting for the first time would not believe how dirty it is.

"It is a shame because we try to encourage business in Old Town but the council just lets us down."

Phil Andrew, of Philip Andrew Estate Agents, in Devizes Road, was equally disappointed in the lack of action.

He said: "We've got garages around the back and we use the alley for access so obviously it's been causing problems.

"A lot of businesses park around there so it's the same for everyone. When I was driving, a tin or something hit my car and if there's a scratch I'll be on the phone to the council.

"I know people have been phoning up to sort it out and why the council haven't picked it up I don't know. It looks terrible."

Later yesterday, after the Adver had phone the council, the rubbish was collected.

A spokesperson for Swindon Borough Council, Sarah Deacon, said: "We are sorry that this refuse has not been collected.

"We have now been up to the sight and cleared it, in good faith we have also cleared the commercial waste that was also there.

"We will now be investigating how this unfortunate incident happened."

Gareth Bethell