Efforts to clean up Wakefield streets trashed

Home >> Wakefield News >> Efforts to clean up Wakefield streets trashed


rss

Efforts to clean up Wakefield streets trashed

Oct 13, 2008

By Stuart Robinson

TONNES of rubbish were cleared away from streets in Wakefield – only for residents to dump their trash in the same place less than a week later.

And fed up council bosses say they will make every effort to track the culprits down and prosecute them.

Wakefield Council cleared an area around Pinderfields Road and College Grove of fly-tipping and rubbish, as well as removing excess bin waste,

in a bid to make the streets cleaner and greener last week.

But when officials went back this week they found that all their efforts had been for nothing.

Furious Cabinet Member responsible for the Environment, Coun Clive Hudson said: "Some of the streets we tackled were an absolute disgrace because some people just haven't been looking after their environment. We are clamping down on this type of behaviour and we and responsible citizens are not willing to tolerate it any longer.

He added: "Dumped waste is a blight on our communities so our teams identified the area as a hotspot. They spoke to residents about disposing of their litter more responsibly and encouraged them to recycle. As well as clearing almost five tonnes of waste the team also jet-washed the area.

"Unfortunately, when we re-visited some of these streets this week the rubbish had already started to pile up again so we have no other option than to look at enforcement and fining the people responsible."
The area was cleared of rubbish, weeds and graffiti and jet washed in the clean-up.

Teams from the Council's Safer and Stronger Communities service spoke to residents and community groups and gave advice on recycling and how to use their waste bins and council services.

The council's Rapid Response team removed around three tons of mixed waste, including old beds, three piece suites, white goods, broken furniture, needles, carpets and bags of side waste. The team also cut down vegetation and removed weeds from footpaths.

The Neighbourhood Action team removed just under a ton of mixed waste and concentrated on the removal of vegetation from footpaths and road ways.

Cleansing teams removed three quarters of a ton of litter, cleaned off graffiti and power washed the flag area around the areas near people's homes.

But the hard work turned out to be for nothing. Council bosses say the next stage of the initiative will be to use enforcement action on households that continue to leave excess waste on the streets and refuse to recycle.

Coun Hudson added: "Everyone has a responsibility to say no to litter because it spoils our enjoyment of cleaner and greener public spaces. We urge everyone to report littering and fly-tipping to help us stop this anti-social behaviour."

To find out more about recycling, reporting litter and how to organise a bulky waste collection visit www.wakefield.gov.uk or phone 0845 8 506 506.
Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

Latest Articles