ON THE day Britain in Bloom judges visited Falmouth, fed-up protestors dumped waste inside the town council's headquarters.
It was the second time frustrated Greenbank residents targeted officials during the council's open surgery over what they claimed was a lack of street maintenance in areas outlining the town centre.
Dunstanville Terrace resident David Culling dumped rubbish in the council chamber in May and at Cornwall Council's highways department in Scorrier five years ago.
On Friday morning he dumped more waste at the council chamber, accusing the authority of not maintaining the paths properly and Cornwall Council of neglecting the highways and gutters.
Town clerk Mark Williams, who normally attends the surgery, was showing Britain in Bloom officials around during the meeting.
Mr Culling said: "Walls are not being re-pointed, paving slabs are lifting and the cracks full of weeds. Some weeds are six feet high. They are fighting fires and not doing their job properly.
"The area is only cleaned once a year, it's an absolute tip. We hang our heads in shame. We pay our taxes, but the council is not fit for purpose."
North Parade resident Colleen Tregenza attended the surgery to complain about poor street maintenance, unaware of the protest, and said: "The verges along Old Hill to John Simmons Hill are horrendous. It is shameful and creates a bad impression, letting Falmouth down. The route is walked by visitors and looks dreadful. I was told Cornwall Council only had a certain number of tractors and my concerns would be noted."
She is writing to ask her councillor, Hanna Toms, to call for maintenance twice a year, in spring and autumn.
In a statement, Cornwall Council said the streets in less busy areas were cleaned when they failed to meet a certain standard, rather than a set number of times.
It added: "This issue in many of the locations highlighted during the meeting is that the road sweepers are often unable to sweep the road completely due to the number of parked cars.
"At North Parade in particular, we are looking to carry out road sweeping when the road is coned off for hedge trimming works.
"We are aware of the concerns about the wall of the raised footway along North Parade and Dunstanville Terrace and works have been scheduled to remove the vegetation."
It said residents would be told so they can make alternative parking arrangements.
Anyone wanting to report overgrown hedgerows and weeds which are obscuring the highway can use the 'Report It' function at www.cornwall.gov.uk or call 0300 1234 222.
Concerns about the cleanliness of a particular street or area can be reported to refuseandrecycling@cornwall.gov.uk or 0300 1234 141.
