Clean sweep on estate rubbish

Around 50 notices listing breaches of tenancy agreements were issued by Newark and Sherwood Homes during a clean-up operation on Newark’s Hawtonville estate.

Twenty tonnes of rubbish, including 50 fridge-freezers and cookers, 35 televisions and a piano were taken away.

The items were seen by housing officers who toured the estate on foot.

They checked that residents were happy for the items to be taken away and they were then loaded on to low-loaders and trailers.

Road sweepers and litter pickers also went round the estate.

Everything — from untidy gardens to illegal parking — was tackled on a day of action involving a number of organisations.

One untaxed vehicle was removed by police.

Under the terms of their tenancy agreements tenants of Newark and Sherwood Homes have a responsibility to maintain the appearance of their properties to an acceptable standard.

Newark and Sherwood Homes is planning 20 clean-up operations in different parts of the district before the end of the year.

Julie Davidson, the estates manager for Newark and Sherwood Homes, said: “Walkabouts are an excellent way of seeing life on the estates.

“The majority of people are very hard working and look after their gardens and property.

“However, there are some who need reminding about their tenancy conditions.

“The issuing of over 50 notices is unfortunate, but at the same time they are advisory and give people a chance to improve before we have to result to more serious enforcement remedies.”

A housing officer, Mrs Julie Madin, said: “We want tenants to know that we will support them to improve their homes but will not accept constant breaches and need to see signs of improvement.”

Newark and Sherwood Homes, which manages the 5,500 council houses in the district, the district council, the police, county council and Bailey Road Tenants and Residents’ Association took part in the clean-up event.

A district councillor appointed to the board of Newark and Sherwood Homes, Mr Stuart Wallace, said: “The community rallied around and supported this event.

“Everyone we spoke to was over the moon that we were able to take their unwanted items away.

“Even those passing were congratulating us on a job well done.”