Is the ‘Cleanest Town’ just a joke?

Madam – I feel it is necessary to bring attention to the disgusting state of the streets and sports centres in and around Arbor Park.

Every day we have to see the same rubbish and broken glass which have been lying there for more than a year! (Notable Plane Street, next to the bowling club). Not to mention the rugby/soccer fields, tennis courts and the Sentrum.

The children going to the Sentrum after school could injure themselves on the broken glass strewn everywhere or pick up some disease from the overflowing sewage. The grounds at the bowling club have also not been cleared of rubbish for over a year either. Even the alleyways between the houses are being used as dumping grounds.

We have people visiting and participating in sporting events from other towns. What do they think? What has happened to Cleanest Town? What a joke!

Please, there have been a lot of positive improvements in Newcastle and all one asks is for the people who are employed as cleaners to do their jobs. If they are too lazy, then replace them. There are hundreds of unemployed people desperate for work, who I’m sure would be only too happy to do it.

I know that the response will be that I must contact the Ward Councillor. Surely it is the responsibility of the councillors to visit their wards without being asked, to make sure that their areas are well maintained. After all, we are paying their salaries.

Disgusted

Response from Mayor, Afzul Rehman:

I refer people to ward council cllrs because there needs to be a chain of command followed.

I wonder if you allow your children’s school educators to question you on why your children have failed a maths test, before they even raise it with your child at school??

We are however increasing the programme of cleaning up our city, but this should start with each and every citizen.