A FAMILY of restaurateurs thought they had become targets of Poole council spies when they were told they had been filmed sweeping rubbish onto the road.
James Hamilton, manager of Le Chateau in Canford Cliffs, told the Echo he thought they were “under surveillance” after a council officer told him they had footage of a member of staff sweeping rubbish off the decking outside the premises. But it turned out the film was taken by a council worker on a mobile phone.
Mr Hamilton was only made aware when he received a letter warning that the 25-year-old family-run restaurant could be issued with a street litter control notice.
When he phoned the council to ask what evidence they had – he was told there was video footage.
“It’s a bit of overkill to film us when they simply could have come round and spoken to us,” he said. “It’s crazy.”
He says the dust and debris cleared from the decking is blown in from the street – particularly a nearby bus stop where there is no litter bin.
His father-in-law Dave Wakelam said he thought they’d been doing the council a favour sweeping debris from the pavement into the road.
“I couldn’t believe it. A road sweeper was filming me sweeping the road – it’s bizarre,” he said.
Shaun Robson, head of Poole council’s environmental and consumer protection services, said the incident had been witnessed by council staff in a marked council vehicle wearing high visibility uniform.
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