A WELL-KNOWN gay meeting point is becoming a no-go zone for residents because of the rubbish left in the area.

Duke's Mound, off Madeira Drive in Brighton, is frequently littered with items, including condoms.

Owen Stevens, of Rugby Court, Bristol Gardens, said the area was a disgrace.

He said: "It's so bad you can't walk past because there's so much disgusting rubbish strewn around."

The 25-year-old added: "It is supposed to be a place

for anyone to use, but I

wouldn't let children play there because of the health hazard."

The Rev Colin Still, chairman of the Kemp Town Conservation Society, said: "It is not cleaned up enough and some of the litter is pretty disgusting.

"Nobody wants to see it and people get fed up because everyone wants to use these areas."

Terry Blair-Stevens, a sexual health programme manager for East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority, said ways of solving the problem were being explored.

He said: "We have been liaising with the council's environmental services department.

"We want to try and improve the availability of refuse bins down there because they are being vandalised time and time again.

"I am very aware the gay men who socialise in the area are equally concerned about the litter problem."

A Brighton and Hove Council spokesman said: "Our unfortunate contractors have to clear up condoms and other litter.

"It is a well-known gay meeting area. Residents'

concerns are known and the matter will continue to be the subject of regular discussions between us, the police and the gay community."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.