BUSINESSES in Maidstone town centre are to be told that waste will only be allowed to be put out for collection during certain hours of the day.

The move to restrict the times when rubbish sacks and other containers can be left on pavements is part of Maidstone Borough Council's drive to clean up the town centre.

The council will tell businesses that any waste will only be allowed to be put out for collection from 8.30am to 10am and from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on each day.

It will also insist that waste will only be able to be placed in plastic sacks or plastic or metal bins.

Firms that flout the new regulations could face prosecution or fixed penalty notices under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The decision to introduce the new restrictions was taken by Cllr Roger Berriman (Lab), the cabinet member for health and the environment. It follows a survey of town centre businesses about commercial waste which revealed that some businesses put out waste overnight for collection the next day, and some even put it out 36 hours before.

Environmental Services Manager Malcolm Wells said in a report on the issue that commercial waste in the streets posed a fire risk and a hazard to pedestrians.

Any comments on the proposals will have to be made in writing to Mr Wells by November 1. A further report will then be made to the cabinet member, informing him of the comments and recommending a course of action to introduce the controls as soon as possible.