IT’S one of the busiest areas of Hexham, with a popular supermarket, an antiques business, car dealerships and other businesses scattered over a wide area.

But there is not a single litter bin on the Haugh Lane industrial estate – and the appearance of the area is suffering as a result.

That was the claim from local businesswoman Trish Hannant at Monday’s meeting of Hexham Town Council, when she complained that there was a lot of litter on Haugh Lane itself which appeared to have emanated from the estate.

She said: “The area is strewn with litter. There are bottles, packets and carrier bags blowing about, and it’s a real mess.

“There is not a single bin where people can put their rubbish, and that cannot be right.”

She also drew attention to the fact that when bins in the town centre were emptied, the swinging doors on them were often left flapping open.

County councillor Cath Homer said she had received a lot of complaints about the cleanliness of Hexham, and was in the process of contacting County Hall to request a deep clean of the area.