A Newcastle MP says she is “appalled” by fly-tipping blighting the city’s West End and has called for urgent action to deal with the long-standing scourge.
Chi Onwurah has spoken out about the state of back lanes in Benwell and other parts of her constituency.
Newcastle City Council posted shocking images on Facebook on Monday, showing how back lanes around Ladykirk Road had been left covered in rubbish just 24 hours after they had been completely cleared by local authority workers.
That came after footage emerged last week of children playing in a rat-infested alley.
The sight of litter strewn across back lanes has been a familiar problem in the West End for years – with items including dirty nappies, rotten food waste, and discarded mattresses left lining the streets.
Irresponsible residents not disposing of their rubbish properly, fly-tippers targeting the area, and bin raiders digging through other people’s trash have all been blamed for the issue.
Council bosses have trialled numerous measures in different areas to try and solve the crisis – including switching between communal and individual household bins, using CCTV, and installing bollards to block off back streets.
Ms Onwurah, the Labour MP for Newcastle Central and West, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Tuesday that it was “ time we all took more responsibility for our shared environment”.
She added: “I have the highest regard for the hardworking bin collectors and street sweepers who do so much for our communities every day. I also want to thank the vast majority of residents who dispose of their rubbish and recycling properly.
“But I am appalled by those who fly-tip in our back lanes, creating mess and misery for their neighbours. Bin divers who scatter waste, those who don’t use the correct bins and irresponsible businesses dumping their rubbish are all contributing to a problem that affects everyone.
“I’ve personally spoken with residents about these serious concerns, written to them directly, and have raised them with the city council. I’m calling for urgent action, including the installation of CCTV cameras to deter and catch those responsible. This is about respect for our communities. I urge everyone to do their part: use the right bins, report fly-tipping and help make our neighbourhoods cleaner, safer and better for all.”
The city council said that it was “disheartening” for its staff and “unfair on the communities who take pride in their neighbourhoods” to see piles of rubbish returning just hours after they had been cleaned up.
Alex Hay, the council’s deputy leader, added: “Our teams work tirelessly to keep Newcastle clean but too often their efforts are undone within hours. This isn’t just disrespectful, it’s illegal. We will take firm action against those who repeatedly commit these environmental crimes.
We believe in a Newcastle where every resident feels proud of their neighbourhood. But we can’t do it alone. Our crews are out there every day making a difference, now we need residents to do their part by reporting fly-tipping and bin misuse. Together, we can protect our streets, support our workers, and build a cleaner, stronger, prouder Newcastle.”
