Waste bin rule 'another form of tax', says business

Time Banding Zones have been in force in Brighton since 2022

An optician which has faced £1,000 worth of fines for not putting its waste bins out at a set time said the council was hitting local businesses with "another form of tax".

Eyesite Opticians & Hearing Care is in a Time Banding Zone in North Street, Brighton, meaning its bins must go out between 18:00 and 09:00 GMT.

Managing director Jim Green said while these zones were a good idea "in principle", the rules enforced by Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) were problematic for a practice which shuts at 17:30 and he had to rely on "goodwill" from his team.

A spokesperson for BHCC said the zones were introduced "to keep our pavements accessible for pedestrians" following a public consultation.

If the bins are not put out at the right time the optician risks a £100 fine, a sanction Mr Green said the practice had faced repeatedly in recent years.

He told BBC Radio Sussex: "Since 2022 we've pretty much had around about £1,000 worth of fines...it's getting a bit beyond a joke.

"I'm sure we're not the only people in the city who have this same problem.

"We're having to trade on some goodwill from our team to be able to take the bins out 30 minutes after their contracted shift finishes."

The managing director said his request for "good grace" and some flexibility had gone unanswered by the council.

The BHCC spokesperson said: "Our team has to apply the law fairly and proportionately.

"We treat all local businesses the same and include an extensive grace period where enforcement does not take place.

"But where breaches are found to be taking place outside of this grace period a fixed penalty notice will be issued. That was the case here."