Fury as dog dirt and old chairs dumped in Bettws reen (From South Wales Argus)

Fury as dog dirt and old chairs dumped in Bettws reen

3:10pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

FLY-TIPPERS are destroying a Newport waterway by dumping everything from furniture to household rubbish and dog mess, say residents.

People in Bettws are disappointed to see that vandals have polluted a reen near Wye Crescent after they spent years clearing it up.

Edna Evans, who previously held regular clean-ups with ward councillor Noel Trigg and local children, was annoyed to see the current state of the brook.

The grandmother said: ‘I couldn’t believe what people have thrown there – it’s wicked. That stretch is filled with every kind of rubbish you can imagine, it’s really bad.”

Cllr Noel Trigg said he was disappointed to see the area’s decline and said he planned to restart the regular clean-ups they once held.

He said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. There’s drugs and all sorts going on by the looks of it.”

Newport City Homes (NCH), which owns several of the nearby properties, said it undertakes regular inspections and remedial works in the area as and when they are required, and litter within the reed beds and a sofa left on the bridge would be removed this week.

It said although the waterway was not currently part of its controlled programme of works, it does look to ensure the water is free flowing and the banks are free of litter.

The spokesman said NCH welcomed the support of the local community, but all works at the site should be overseen by professional persons experienced in biodiversity and waterway management.