Paula Graves, Community-Led Housing Manager
This follows on from a blog I wrote back in August about the issues that are encountered when properties are left empty for such a long time. Problems still continued with this refurbished home but in a place that was out of sight.
The East Marsh has been grappling with a persistent and escalating issue: the state of its alleyways. These narrow, often overlooked passageways have become a breeding ground for waste and drug dealing, posing significant health and safety risks to residents.
A recent incident involving a family’s home inundated with human waste is just one stark example of the problems plaguing the area. The family’s ordeal, which included multiple attempts to resolve the issue with the help of plumbers, a jetting company, and even Anglian Water, highlights the complex nature of the problem and the frustration of those affected.
The alleyway in question had been a dumping ground for months, with East Marsh United, our contracting partners Expert Spray and residents reporting the issue to their local authority and local councillors on numerous occasions. Despite these efforts, the situation continued to deteriorate, culminating in the family’s distressing experience. After East Marsh United had reported an empty property to the Empty Homes team within the local authority, as the garden was stacked up with rubbish and their garden fence buckling under the weight of it into the alleyway, the rubbish was cleared by an unknown source into the alleyway.
East Marsh United is an ethical landlord and when one of our tenants reported the issue they were having on a Friday, we had no choice but to step in and clear the alleyway. The scale of the problem became even more apparent. The waste removed included a shocking range of items, from asbestos and human waste to mattresses, drugs paraphernalia, and even children’s toys. The sheer volume of waste, coupled with its hazardous nature, posed a serious threat to the health and safety of the entire community. The cost to East Marsh United was over £3k (yup, three thousand pounds), along with two days of manpower on a Saturday and Sunday by Expert Spray and a waste disposal team. The issue of sewage waste coming up in gardens and toilets being unable to be flushed, wasn’t just problematic for our tenant, but other residents in the street.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a coordinated approach to address the ongoing issues with alleyways in the East Marsh. Partnership working between residents, landlords, councillors, and the local authority is essential to finding sustainable solutions. Simply saying ‘the alleyways belong to the landlords or home owners’, although technically correct, is not helpful and cannot be the answer.
The issue of waste in alleyways is not a one-time occurrence but a longstanding problem that requires ongoing attention so we can find a permanent solution. Effective solutions will require collaboration between all stakeholders, including residents, landlords, councillors, and the local authority. The financial burden of clearing up waste and addressing infrastructure issues is significant, both for individuals and the community as a whole.
As the East Marsh community continues to advocate for improvements, it is hoped that this incident will serve as a catalyst for change. By working together, residents and authorities can create a cleaner, safer, and more pleasant environment for everyone.
