Newcastle back lanes task force promises more patrols in problem areas plagued by piles of rubbish

Council and police bosses are pledging tougher action to finally rid the West End of Newcastle of the litter and fly-tipping scourge that has troubled the city for years

Police and council patrols will be upped in parts of Newcastle blighted by a litter and fly-tipping crisis.

A new task force has been set up in a bid to finally rid the city’s West End of the piles of rubbish that have plagued back lanes for years. Northumbria Police and Newcastle City Council have now pledged to increase patrols in problem areas that are worst-affected by heaps of waste being dumped outside people’s homes.

The state of the West End’s back lanes has been a hot topic for many years – with repeated complaints about overflowing bins, fly-tipping, bin raiders and rat infestations. City officials now hope that the new Empowering People in Communities (EPiC) task force will result in more culprits being caught and people being better educated about the problem.

The task force is part of a wider EPiC programme that has specifically targeted locations including Walker, Elswick and West Denton in an effort to combat waste, graffiti, anti-social behaviour, substance abuse, crime and deprivation. However, a £1.5 million funding pot used to set up that initiative is due to run out in March next year and it remains unclear whether the scheme will be able to continue.

Labour councillor Irim Ali, the council’s cabinet member responsible for local services, told colleagues at a meeting last week that EPiC had met a “great amount of resistance” when it was launched but has since become embedded in communities. She told the council’s overview and scrutiny committee that civic centre officials wanted to continue EPiC, which was originally funded through a dividend from the council’s shares in Newcastle International Airport, beyond March 2025 and expand it to other parts of the city.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service showcased last month how council ‘barrow lad’ Mark Scott had been tasked with clearing up the West Road and was picking up as much as 25 bin bags worth of dropped litter every day, with council bosses hoping to replicate his success in the back lanes of Benwell and Arthur’s Hill. Past measures to try and deal with the West End’s litter crisis have included switching from communal to individual households bins, installing CCTV and installing bollards to block vehicles accessing some back lanes.

Coun Ali said: “Reducing anti-social behaviour and this type of environmental crime is one of my key priorities and I am proud that we are leading this positive action to ensure Newcastle remains to be an attractive, vibrant city. We encourage all our communities to support us by disposing of waste correctly and reporting any issues in their area. By working together we can make the city one where everyone can feel proud to live.”

Sergeant Le-Anne Beard, of Northumbria Police, added: “We’re pleased to be working alongside our partners to further improve the West End community. This latest activity is assisting in keeping the area clean, tidy and welcoming for all and is something we’re proud to support. Through EPiC, we want residents in the area to know we are here for them and will act on any concerns they have about where they live.”

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