FOOD waste collections must be trialled in poor as well as affluent areas, union officials have demanded.

It comes after rumours Brighton and Hove City Council’s Green administration has chosen Westbourne and Central Hove as the first areas to |test out one of its flagship policies.

The party has committed itself to exploring the potential for a weekly food waste collection across the city but has admitted the move would lead to a fortnightly collection for general refuse.

Mark Turner, from the GMB, said: “We have suggested to the council that two areas are chosen but this is not the right mix we are looking for.

“It’s fine to have one affluent area but you also have to know how this is going to work in |the estates and crucially how |it will work with communal bins.”

Andrew Wealls, a Conservative councillor for Central Hove, said: “While I’m not principally against food waste collections and I think many of the residents in my ward feel the same, I’m not sure how much we would learn about the possible impact on the rest of the city from trying it here.

“I don’t think it would be as much of an upheaval as it would be in other areas.

“But I would hope if this area is chosen for a trial I will have the opportunity to talk to residents about it first.”

A council spokeswoman said: “We are still looking into options for a food trial and no final decision has yet been made as to where and when it will run.”