Green Street traders
give rubbish the boot
Newham Council's Green Street
crackdown returned positive results last week with more than 100
local businesses supporting the nation wide initiative to clean up
Britain.
The sting on crime and anti-social behaviour involved 20
officers from the crime and anti-social behaviour (CASB) service,
working with the street cleansing, waste management teams, Met
Police ASB Team, local Safer Neighbourhood Police Teams and
environment group ENCAMS to target street offences between the
junction of Plashet Grove and Selsdon Road near Queens
Market.
Council officers said the results were encouraging but more can
be done by retailers and shoppers to keep the precinct clean and
free of litter.
Two people were issued with £80 on-the-spot fines for carelessly
dropping litter in the streets while another 135 litter louts were
stopped and formally warned for littering offences. 15 businesses
are at risk of copping £300 fines and possible prosecution if they
fail to produce valid trade waste agreements within 14 days.
12 pigeon feeders in the square adjacent to Queen Market were
confronted and advised not to throw food in the area and warned
that they face risk of receiving £80 fine if caught again.
More than 100 businesses including eight fast food outlets were
supportive of the campaign and said they'd be doing more to keep
their shop fronts clean in future.
Newham's executive member for anti-social behaviour, Councillor
June Leitch, said: "This week was as much about education as
enforcement. By working with local traders to improve the area, and
penalising those who fail to meet the standards set, we can make
Green Street a better shopping area for all.
"It's in the best interest of traders and shoppers, to have a
clean shopping precinct. This will keep locals coming back and
attract new customers to this diverse area. Residents tell us
cleaner streets and making people feel safer are the most important
issues facing the borough. This initiative is part of our wider
commitment to clean up the streets to make Newham a safer place to
live, work and stay."
Council officers will continue to take enforcement action
against litterbugs, while ensuring businesses store their waste
safely and dispose of lawfully.