doubt everyone locally is congratulating themselves on the success of another Rhythms of the World extravaganza in Hitchin over the last weekend. But at what cost to our market town. Areas where the events were held were awash with bottles and rubbish for

doubt everyone locally is congratulating themselves on the success of another Rhythms of the World extravaganza in Hitchin over the last weekend.

But at what cost to our market town. Areas where the events were held were awash with bottles and rubbish for days afterwards.

The one contractor from J Connor, who stoically clears rubbish from Windmill Hill, alone, every weekend morning, could be seen on Monday morning, again alone, amid a sea of rubbish bemused and not knowing where to start. That is of course after he had cleared all the rubbish from Bancroft Recreation Ground.

Pavements in the town centre are now in a disgraceful state from grease and food and drink stains. Areas around what have obviously been overflowing refuse bins are particularly disgusting. In some cases these particularly ugly areas are only feet away from tables and chairs placed on pavements for patrons to eat and drink.

Where in all the planning for the event - and there must have been a lot of planning - was the provision for cleaning up? I hope everyone was not relying on the NHDC Service Team to do the cleaning up because they will always excuse themselves and say it is not in their budget.

I have attended events at Knebworth Park where there has been a sea of rubbish on a Saturday night, but it is all cleared and in plastic bags by midday Sunday. That is because they plan for rubbish clearance.

Perhaps our Town Centre Manager could answer these points, and tell us when he expects the town centre to be clean again.

KEN PORTER, Wellingham Avenue, Hitchin