NR3 Heath Road alley cleared of fly-tipped waste in Norwich

The north city postcode has been described as up-and-coming after a rise in popularity during recent years with home prices rocketing and many small businesses moving in.

Fly-tipping in the area has also rocketed though, with some alleyways lost to discarded rubbish and overgrown weeds, but one councillor has been working to make the alleyways usable again in the hope it would discourage anti-social behaviour.  

They alleyway had fallen victim of fly tipping (Image: Alex Catt)

This time it was the turn of Heath Road, where an alley has been in a mess for years.

City councillor Alex Catt and the NR3 Greens have been campaigning for Norwich City Council to give the alleyway the clean-up it deserves.

Before and after photos show just how dramatic this transformation is (Image: Alex Catt)

Mr Catt said: “There is lots of evidence that shows that areas people perceive to be neglected are more likely to see further anti-social behaviour.  

READ MORE: Norwich's Beaconsfield Road, in NR3, gets alleyway overhaul

“This combined with a woeful lack of enforcement action from the council against fly-tipping are why this has become such an issue in the area.  

Heath Road was full to the brim with garden waste (Image: Alex Catt)

“After months of being told that street cleaning is ‘under review’ at the council, and getting no answers about when specific streets would be cleaned, it was great to finally see this alleyway receive the deep clean it needs.” 

READ MORE: Toy shop of a different kind prepares to open in the city centre

However, Mr Catt still believes there is a long way to go.  

Alex hopes that people in the area work to keep it clean (Image: Alex Catt)

He said: “But we need to see more proactive work being done on the basics.  

READ MORE: Silver Road NR3 alleyway transformed by Norwich Greens

“This is why Green councillors in the area and local community groups have often had to do this work ourselves whether that is reporting fly-tipping, litter-picking, or manually scraping some of the most neglected alleyways.” 

This has been seen in alleyways including off Beaconsfield Road and Silver Road.  

Norwich City Council was contacted for comment.

Green city councillor Alex Catt (Image: Alex Catt)

Fly-tipping

The city council encourages people to report fly-tipping offences via its website.

It states: "Everyone has a legal duty of care to dispose of waste correctly and is accountable even if their waste is fly-tipped by someone else.

"The majority of fly-tipping is carried out by rogue traders offering cheap waste clearance.

"The act of fly-tipping is a criminal offence punishable by Fixed Penalty Notice, unlimited fine and/or imprisonment up to five years.

It is hoped the fresh look will deter anti-social behaviour (Image: Alex Catt)

"Vehicles used for fly-tipping can be seized by enforcement authorities.

"Fly-tipping has a harmful impact on the environment, wildlife and people.

"Incidences can vary in scale from a single item to large quantities of waste and may include general waste, furniture, electrical goods, rubble, timber, mattresses, carpets and hazardous materials like asbestos or chemicals.

"Clearing up fly-tipping is an unnecessary cost to Norwich taxpayers."