A BLITZ of rubbish in Worcester city centre is a step closer - with the city council's acting leader calling the crackdown "well overdue".

The Conservative leadership has agreed to kick off a six-week consultation over banning shops from leaving waste bags out for collection overnight.

As your Worcester News first revealed last week, under the plan retailers trying to dodge the rules will face fines of £100.

The cabinet has now formally endorsed a move to start the consultation, with acting leader Councillor Marc Bayliss saying "the people of Worcester want this sorted".

He said: "This is something the people of Worcester want sorted - the mountainous bags that lie outside some shops from 5.30 at night is a blight on our city's landscape.

"My only regret is that I wish the penalties we could enforce could be slightly higher - I hope it will be enough but as always our approach will be a measured one."

Under the crackdown the only time bags could be left out will be 6am-9.30am, minimising the chances of them being ripped open by vermin or late-night revellers.

During the cabinet meeting debate last night Labour group deputy leader Councillor Joy Squires raised concern about it not tying in with a County Hall review of lorry delivery and collection times in the city centre.

That review will only conclude after the court trial following the death of Sylvia Russell, who died after being crushed under a bin lorry at The Shambles in September 2014, is over.

Councillor Squires said she welcomed the litter crackdown but was concerned it could "pre-empt or undermine" that county council review.

She also cited disapproval about it having no conditions on the use of lorries, saying private contractors should be forced to use "banksmen" - people who watch while a vehicle reverses - and asked if the policy could damage the surface of The Shambles, which is due to be resurfaced in the coming months.

"The determination to do something about trade waste is very welcome, but it must be tied in to all of this," she said.

But Councillor Bayliss insisted it was "long overdue", with shops allowed a free-for-all before now.

"We need to get on with this, the time is right to do this now rather than wait," he said.

"We do live in a beautiful city, but some mornings you wouldn't think it."

Councillor Andy Roberts, the cabinet member for cleaner and greener, said it was about "making the city a better shopping experience" while the Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Roger Knight, said it would "set the standards" for other areas to follow.

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