A COUNCILLOR is fed up with hearing “disgusting” and “neglected” muttered by residents as rubbish bags pile up and shrubs sprout on buildings.

Dawn Barnett, who represents Hangleton, said the area has been “abandoned and neglected” by Brighton and Hove City Council.

“There are trees and shrubs growing through garage roofs,” she said.

“The bins are overflowing with rubbish in Buckley Close and Chichester Close.

“It’s piling up and it’s not fair on residents.”

Cllr Barnett said she does not blame Cityclean, which normally empties the bins, but rather the council for “trying to speed ahead with building new houses before fixing the basics”.

“The building site in Buckley Close has blocked the pathway for the rubbish carts to drive by and collect the rubbish.

“They can’t fit and the rubbish has not been collected for a month. The council doesn’t sort the basics.

“If it sorted the basics first before going ahead with bigger projects then this city would look a lot better.”

The Argus visited Hangleton with Cllr Barnett and photographed garages in Harmsworth Crescent sprouting shrubs.

She said: “It just shouts neglect everywhere you go.

“The garages even have signs outside them saying ‘fragile’ roofing, and letting these plants just grow and grow is going to ruin the foundations and the buildings will just collapse.”

Residents in the area shared their concerns with her.

Jackie Gregory, a 73-year-old cab driver from Hangleton, said: “It’s disgusting how abandoned this area is.

“There’s grass growing up through the pavements and nobody seems to be doing anything about it.”

Lee Brand, 65, who also lives nearby, said: “You do wonder where all the money goes. It’s just disgraceful.”

One resident in Buckley Close, who preferred not to be named, said he was furious with the delayed rubbish collection.

“I am not happy, the rubbish is piling up, sometimes it’s in the entrance of the flat because there’s so much,” he said.

“The trucks haven’t come in ages, it’s like we’ve been forgotten.”

A council spokesman said: “We are currently building much-needed new council homes in Buckley Close and are aware that this work has caused some access issues.

“We will be sending a small refuse truck to clear the rubbish as soon as possible.

“We are aware of overgrowth at some of the Harmsworth Crescent garages and are investigating how best to get it removed.”