Tenby’s Mayor and county councillor for the south ward is writing to letting agencies marketing properties in the seaside town to urge them to make sure that there are proper arrangements for the collection of waste from their properties at the end of each letting period.

This month’s meeting of Tenby Town Council once again heard reports of overflowing street bins being used for household waste and black bags being dumped near to bins.

Councillors were told that people continued to use street litter bins for their domestic waste, an issue particularly relating to holiday lets.

Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, the town’s Mayor said: “I have been made aware of holiday properties where the welcome pack for guests specifically tells people to use street litter bins for all waste. This is not acceptable.

“Owners of properties should be planning for the disposal of waste. There are many options open to them including getting a trade waste agreement for weekly collections.”

Street litter bins are provided by Pembrokeshire County Council and town centre bins are emptied up to five times a day at the height of the holiday season.

These bins are provided for the public but are not intended for domestic waste. Council staff emptying the bins have noticed more and more people bringing all their waste to the bins, with some explaining that there were no bins provided at their holiday let.

The meeting of the Town Council also heard that in some cases, where there was abuse of the street litter facility, Pembrokeshire County Council were electing to remove problem bins, which councillors felt was not the solution.

“It is not fair on the residents of Tenby,” continued Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall.

“We pay our Council tax to have our own domestic waste collected and we also pay for street waste collections. Why should Tenby residents subsidise holiday let owners who refuse to make proper arrangements for waste collection.

“I am sick and tired of being in town early each morning and seeing rubbish strewn across the streets because it has been left by bins or dumped. Why would you come to such a beautiful place and treat it with such little respect? It is also not fair on our hardworking staff who try so hard to keep the town tidy.”

Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall explained that it was not all holiday lets responsible, with many having arrangements in place for waste to be collected or removed by cleaning teams at the end of the week and disposed of properly.

She added: “It is now time for the letting agencies to be clear with their clients that everyone must deal with their waste.

“If they don’t do this, I will be discussing with the Local Authority to see what enforcement action can be taken.

“Tenby being beautiful helps sell their business and many are making a lot of money. All we are asking is for them to do is help keep Tenby tidy.”