Newtown residents pledge to clean up town after used needles are found

Newtown Community Action Group has been set up to tackle litter problems across Newtown, which in some areas has seen used needles left in the open, containers strewn about and a washing machine left abandoned.

After angry social media posts calling for something to be done about the declining environment of the town, a group of residents set up the group in a bid to tackle the problem.

Litter picks have already taken place, and after a large response more than 100 volunteers have agreed to donate their time to help the group.

Businesses such as Morrisons supermarket have already donated equipment and the group is seeking more help from other businesses. The group is also talking with schools, councillors, the police and residents.

Karen Cadman, who lives on the Maesyrhandir estate, has been out with other volunteers picking up litter around the area.

She said the estate, and the neighbouring Maesydil estate in the Newtown south ward used to be thriving, but have fallen into a bad state with the amount of mess in the area.

She has urged people to take pride in their area, and restore it to what it used to be.

She said: “The state of the estates are bad, some people have reported needles, there is rubbish everywhere and there was even a washing machine left.

“This is in Newtown south and is right up in the corner of the town.

“In the past it used to be thriving. We had the pub but that has gone, there used to be community barbecues and parties but nothing like that happens now.

“We’ve put the group together to make a difference and tidy things up, we feel it is the right time to do it with the bypass coming and the green spaces project.

“We just want people to take a bit more pride in the area, and clean up after themselves to make the community look nicer.

“It not only makes it look bad, but leaving needles lying around is dangerous.”

Conservative councillor for Newtown South Neil Morrison has asked the council to put a skip in the area for unwanted waste in the past, and has insisted he fully supports the new action group.

Organisers have issued a rallying call for other residents to donate their time to the case, and fellow member Stu Trigg added: “Our group demonstrates that action, not words will benefit a local area.

“People coming together and working to face problems and offer solutions can make a massive difference to any community, and I would encourage any town or village to form its own community action group towards this end. We would also ask anyone willing to actively participate to contact and join the group.”

For more information or to join e-mail NewtownComm.Action@gmail.com