A council boss pounded the pavements as he got stuck into a campaign to tidy up the city and combat fly-tipping amid backlash from political rivals.

Norwich City Council leader Mike Stonard was accompanied by fellow Labour councillor Jess Carrington, council staff and Norwich City Services Ltd (NCSL) to carry out checks in the George Pope Road area of Catton Grove ahead of clean-up work.

The council has regularly been criticised by the Greens, the second biggest party at City Hall, for a lack of action on fly-tipping.

Norwich Evening News: The council has been under pressure to clear up the ongoing fly-tipping around the cityThe council has been under pressure to clear up the ongoing fly-tipping around the city (Image: Leon Best)

However, as part of the council's Love Norwich campaign, a rolling programme of neighbourhood clean-up visits has been launched.

The aim is to remove fly-tipped rubbish, litter and graffiti in public areas, tidy grass edging and shrubs, clean pavements and sweep hard surfaces.

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Figures reveal that between July 2022 and July 2023 there were a total of 6,089 cases of fly-tipping reported in the city.

Norwich Evening News: There were 6,089 cases of fly-tipping reported between July 2022 and July 2023There were 6,089 cases of fly-tipping reported between July 2022 and July 2023 (Image: Submitted)

The shocking rise in fly-tipping prompted the city's Green Party to demand answers about how the £100,000 Love Norwich fund, launched in November 2022, has been spent.

 

City council leader Mr Stonard said: "Our commitment to keeping the city a clean and inviting place for residents, businesses and visitors, continues at pace.

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"Walkabout inspections such as this are vital to ensure that we have a real sense of the issues experienced by local communities and to speak with residents to hear their views and experiences, first-hand.

Norwich Evening News: The Love Norwich campaign launched in November 2022 to action the city council's commitment to keeping the city cleanThe Love Norwich campaign launched in November 2022 to action the city council's commitment to keeping the city clean (Image: Submitted)

“We're all responsible for making our city a better place and we know Norwich has a great community spirit, so we would urge everyone who lives and works here to be vigilant and do their bit by working with us.

"If you see fly-tipping or find items illegally dumped on public land, then please report it to us as soon as possible via the council’s website."