'People take no pride and just dump their rubbish'

7 hours ago

Rose LyleSouth of England

Nazrul Chaudhery has called on everyone to contribute to keep the Newtown area area of Southampton tidy

BBC A man standing on the pavement of a road in a dark blue shirt. He has a beard. The road is lined by parked cars and trees. — Nazrul Chaudhery has called on everyone to contribute to keep the Newtown area area of Southampton tidy

Nazrul Chaudhery has lived in a suburb of Southampton for nearly 30 years but has had enough.

"People are not taking pride in the area and just dumping rubbish," he says.

"We've been trying to sort the litter problem for ages. We want to make the area look better because you feel better when the area is clean."

He has joined other residents in Newtown to take action and clean up the area with the help of the council.

A recent Deep Clean, Keep Clean trial saw three roads given a range of environmental and highway improvements including pothole repairs, fly-tipping removal and tree pollarding.

The work is part of a wider Southampton City Council programme aimed at creating safer and more inclusive neighbourhoods in the St Mary's area of the city.

Naseer Mirza wants firmer action on people who litter

Naseer Mirza - a man stands in front of a fence with a black bin bag in one hand and a litter picker in another. He is wearing glasses and has a beard — Naseer Mirza wants firmer action on people who litter

Naseer Mirza has lived in Oxford Road for 25 years.

He says he has also joined litter picking patrols: "My upbringing and religion says you should keep your home tidy and also your community tidy because you're part of it.

"Having litter-free pavements and roads will help keep everyone safe.

"It's going in a better direction but there is a lot to be done. Everybody should contribute, from the community, from the council - they need to be a bit stricter and penalise people who are not obeying."

Chaudhery agrees: "We would like to see more enforcement on fly-tipping... that would definitely help."

In response, the council says: "We know residents want to see firm action taken against fly-tipping, which is why Southampton City Council is committed to strengthening environmental enforcement across the city.

"Additional enforcement officers will support action on offences including fly-tipping and littering, complementing the council's existing services.

"Our focus is on deterring environmental crime and taking appropriate enforcement action where there is sufficient evidence."

The council is considering rolling the scheme out to other areas

A group of men stand looking at the camera. Some of them are holding black bin bags and litter pickers — The council is considering rolling the scheme out to other areas

Toqeer Kataria, the councillor for Beovis Ward and member for communities, leisure and safety in the city, says: "It is about helping communities take pride in where they live.

"Everyone deserves to live in a neighbourhood that feels clean, safe and welcoming.

"We want to continue doing deep cleans but in a different way that might not involved closing whole roads."