by Alex Claridge
aclaridge@thekmgroup.co.uk

A shop owner has started a petition demanding the return of all the bins in the city centre.

Last week the council restored nine of the 50 bins which had been removed in August over fears of civil unrest in Canterbury.

But Manny Armario, who owns Whatever Comics in St Peter’s Street, wants them all back and has the support of most members of the Canterbury Area Member Panel.

Manny said: “The council keeps telling us that Canterbury is tidier without the bins. Well I’m sorry, I don’t agree that it is and a lot of people in Canterbury don’t agree that it is.

“I think there has been an upsurge in rubbish appearing on the ground and I think that to have taken all the bins away is ridiculous.”

Manny, 55, who has traded in Canterbury since 1989, collected 300 signatures in a week for his petition.

“This is the people of Canterbury speaking and I reckon I could get 1,000 signatures a day if I took this to the streets,” he added.

“Canterbury is an absolutely beautiful city and we don’t want it strewn with rubbish. Lots of people have been eager to sign my petition.”

Manny says he will take his findings to the council and see how it reacts.

At Monday’s Canterbury Area Member Panel councillors voted 8-3 to restore all the bins in the city centre.

Lib Dem Ida Linfield, who represents the Westgate ward, said: “I was unhappy when I read that the bins had been taken away. I think we need more bins not fewer.”

Alex Perkins, the leader of the Lib Dems, added: “Just put the bloody bins back.”

The panel will put its recommendations to the city council’s executive for a future decision on their return.