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SIGN OUR PETITION TO CLEAN UP NEWCASTLE’S WEST ROAD
TAKEAWAY packets, household waste and reports of people raiding bins – litter on and around Newcastle’s West Road is a growing problem.
People who live and work along this busy inner-city road feel the area has been neglected and they are tired of finding litter sprawled across the street.
Many say that their hope of seeing the area cleaned up is dwindling.
Now, The Chronicle has teamed up with InYourArea to launch a petition, which you can sign at
bit.ly/2B2mInS, in a bid to keep the road clean.
Safi Mohammed, who works at his family’s takeaway Mumtaj Fast Food, said: “The area used to be top-notch and now it is absolutely disgusting, particularly the back alleys.”
Mumtaj opened on West Road 18 years ago, but Safi says he has witnessed a decline in the cleanliness of the area, especially in the last two years. And while he has witnessed some residents clearing litter from West Road and the surrounding areas, it is still a prominent issue in the community.
The 32-year-old added: “At one time we used to see street sweepers driving up and down the street on a daily basis and there would be street wardens to hand out fines, but now all of that has stopped.”
Mumtaj is situated on the corner of West Road and Beadling Gardens and Safi says that litter accumulates outside of the business through being blown down the street.
He adds that three large bins were once located outside the takeaway. However, they had to be removed as they were attracting flies and causing hygiene concerns.
The amount of litter on West Road has prompted Safi’s brother, who owns Mumtaj, to create petitions and contact the council calling for change.
However, Safi explains that he is yet to see any change, despite instances of fly-tipping and reports of people raiding the bins.
He said: “We’re trying to run a successful business, but if people come to the area and see the state of it, people will think it’s tacky and they won’t want to come here.
“It’s a great area to visit with families. We have hairdressers, food places, cakes shops and ice cream parlours.
“We’d love to see more people coming to the West Road, but when they see the dirt and the rubbish they won’t want to come back.”
Newcastle City Council insists it has taken a number of steps to keep the road clean.
A council spokesperson said: “West Road, with its large number of takeaways, has always had issues with litter but we have taken several steps to improve the area, including increasing the bin capacity; changing street sweeping routes so that it is cleaned early in the morning; and engaging with businesses about their waste storage.
“Keeping it clean requires everyone - businesses, local organisations, residents and us – to work together.
“Of course we must rely on people using the bins provided or taking their litter home with them, and that businesses have adequate arrangements to dispose of their commercial waste.
“But we also know there is a problem with people raiding bins in the area to look for items of value, and that can lead to rubbish being left in neighbouring streets, then being blown on to the West Road.
“Unfortunately, it is difficult to police as it mainly happens late at night, and in order for action, to be taken it has to be witnessed and the person involved identified.
“Prior to the pandemic, we were starting to encourage businesses in the area to be more responsible for managing waste and litter both within their boundaries and nearby. As lockdown measures ease we will develop this scheme further.”