A LOCAL businessman says his customers are being put off by horrid smells from a local hotel cleaning its bins and loading bay.

Stephen Zito runs Cellarbrations liquor store on Canning Highway just near Stirling Bridge and says every time the Tradewinds Hotel hoses out its bins and bay, the waste forms a stinking stream right outside his front door. His gutter is adorned with a grey smear, flecked with detritus.

He’s been complaining about it for years, but was prompted to call the Herald this time because tiny East Fremantle council had told him it was too busy to send anyone to investigate.

“It’s pollution, because that water goes straight into the stormwater drains,” Mr Zito told the Herald. “I didn’t think you were allowed to let waste water leave your property.”

• A high-pressure spray leaves the Tradewinds’ bins clean, but a local businessman says the grime and smell is putting his customers off.

He says many of his regulars walk to the store and they all comment about the stench.

Tradewinds manager Peow Lim told the Herald his staff did what they could to control the water, but there wasn’t anywhere to contain it.

“When we clean the loading dock we do try to push the water onto the vacant site next door, but some of it does go down the street,” he conceded.

Mr Lim promised to get someone to give the street in front of Mr Zito’s shop a sweep.

The Herald didn’t hear back from the council.

by STEVE GRANT