Government waste watchdog.

Mermaid Beach Club owner Brian Alkon promised in a letter to the Department of Planning dated October 1 that the area around the Warwick Lane end of the Mermaid Beach Club would be cleaned up.

But angry residents near the South Shore holiday resort said yesterday that nothing had been done.

One woman said: "Nothing's been done at all -- it's very untidy. There's a whole lot of stuff. Even a bathtub's been thrown over there.

"What makes it even worse is that tourists come and walk on this road all the time -- it's just a disgrace.'' Complaints from local residents about the Mermaid Beach Club were lodged several months ago.

In his October 1 letter, Mr. Alkon admitted that rubbish had been dumped but he said that two staff members were already cleaning up the area around the water plant.

And he added: "My wife and I have owned this property for over 20 years and we have had a very good relationship with all our neighbours.

"I understand where they are coming from and you can assure them that I will do my utmost to keep my property up.'' But when a photographer from The Royal Gazette visited Warwick Lane, he saw old bathtubs, air-conditioning units, fridges and other junk lying in heaps.

Mr. Alkon yesterday admitted the club was responsible for the mess. But he insisted: "We realise there is a problem and we intend to correct it.

"We have already started the process as far as picking it up is concerned,'' he said. "We have a pile there. We are waiting for a truck to come and take it away.

"If we have offended any of our neighbours we are sorry -- we all have to live together.''