Day of action targets estate hit by fly-tipping

Scores of people have been clearing up rubbish and weeds from a Sheffield estate blighted by fly-tipping.

Staff and volunteers from social housing provider Arches joined forces with Sheffield City Council for a clean-up day on the Wensley estate, next to Page Hall.

It saw workers gathering litter, clearing weeds and knocking on tenants' doors to engage with householders. Nine skips were provided for people to get rid of unwanted items and rubbish.

Resident Mohamed Alhalmi said: "Really, people should be taking it (the rubbish) up to the tip themselves, but obviously some people can't, so it's a big help to them."

Alhami said of the estate: "It's got a really bad reputation, but it's really nice, we don't have any problems. No burglaries, no vandalism."

Arches Housing said it carried out about six such "neighbourhood days" every year in areas where it holds a significant number of properties.

Chief executive Dean Fearon said: "We know that when people can often struggle to fund the disposal of items they can often find themselves in neighbourhoods and cause a blight to our communities."

He said such days were important to help and support people.

John Hudson, assistant director of housing at Sheffield City Council, said: "We're talking to a lot of tenants about education and enforcement around disposal of rubbish and other waste."

Hudson said some people did not have a vehicle to take bulky items away, and the day was also about helping the community "have a bit of a reset on how they manage their estates".

He said the council spent a lot of money on the disposal of waste, and along with an educational message the day would mean less money being spent on clearing up fly-tipped rubbish.

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