BECCLES Quay, where the town's annual carnival takes place in three weeks time, has been dubbed a “neglected eyesore” by carnival committee members.They are concerned enough to undertake their own clean up of the area - they will be there again on Sunday.

BECCLES Quay, where the town's annual carnival takes place in three weeks time, has been dubbed a “neglected eyesore” by carnival committee members.

They are concerned enough to undertake their own clean up of the area - they will be there again on Sunday. But Waveney claimed this week it already had plans to work on the area before the popular four-day event.

The committee said this week the Waveney-run site had become overgrown and covered in litter, and it will be embarking on another clean up of the site on Sunday.

Carnival committee chairman Alex Moore said: “It is the start of the holiday season and the first place you spot whilst on a boating holiday is the Beccles Quay. It is in a very neglected state and does not set a good impression of Beccles. I feel annoyed because if it was in Lowestoft that would be done straight away. Beccles always gets left out.

“But we don't want people to think we're just doing it for the Carnival - we're doing it because the Quay's part of the community. We don't mind because we're giving back to the community, everyone we speak to would like to use it more.”

The committee said the site was overgrown, with three-feet high stinging nettles around the broken bench seats when they started the work last weekend.

Meanwhile brambles were also overgrown and trees had loose branches and low dangerous branches, and the boundary fence near the bypass could not be seen through the over growth.

The shrubs surrounding the children's play area apparently had become out of control and it says it collected various glass and plastic bottles.

However, Chris Punt, of both Waveney District Council and the Beccles Carnival Committee, said that Waveney was hoping to have administered its own clean up by next weekend.

He said: “I'm meeting officers from Waveney to discuss grass cutting and maintenance - the main thing is to clear the undergrowth, the nettles and brambles.”

A spokesperson for Waveney District Council added: “Maintenance of open space is carried out on a frequency basis, dependant on the diverse use and needs of the area. For example, places of high footfall such as recreational grass are cut more frequently than those deemed 'wildlife friendly.' This is done to maintain natural habitats and it is not neglect.”

However, Beccles Carnival Committee vice-chairman Annette Tackley is still calling on locals to come and help with the committee's own clean-up on Sunday at 1.30pm.

She said: “Although we have started work on improving this great feature it is too big a job for the committee. If anyone is able to come along and help it would be much appreciated.”