East Suffolk councillors pledge to tackle littering and 'uncleanliness' across district
A new group is to be set up to tackle issues like littering, dog fouling and overgrown verges
Residents’ concerns over littering and uncleanliness in East Suffolk have been addressed by councillors.
During yesterday’s East Suffolk full council meeting, councillors had the chance to address multiple concerns they had received from residents.
Cllr Peter Byatt, of Kirkley & Pakefield ward, brought forward a motion proposing the creation of a Task and Finish Group to facilitate the partnership between organisations responsible for maintaining public spaces.
The group would address residents’ issues regarding fly-tipping, dog-fouling, overgrown weeds and shrubs, potholes, and unreadable road signs.
He said: “These have created a general feeling of untidiness and a lack of care in a significant number of areas in the District.
“This is unacceptable as East Suffolk should be clean and inviting for all.
“We have to ensure East Suffolk never reaches this state of dilapidation again.”
During the meeting, Cllr Byatt showed other members of the council several photos which illustrate the failures of the relevant bodies responsible for the district’s public spaces.
The motion got overwhelming support from other councillors, who shared their own experience in their wards.
Cllr Paul Ashton, of Wrentham, Wangford & Westleton, said: “The vast majority of contributions from residents are about keeping the place presentable”.
“As councils, we are not dealing with this problem properly.”
Council leader, Caroline Topping, added: “At the end of the day, our residents don’t care who manages the weeds, they just want them to be sorted out.”
Some criticism, however, was directed at the current administration by Cllr Keith Patience, of the Labour Party, who said the problem has only become worse since the May elections.
Cllr Louise Gooch added: “By the time you debate whether or not you could do something, you could’ve already done it.
“There’s no real debate about this, we’ve got to do it.”
The motion to create a Task and Finish group was passed unanimously.