Anti fly-tipping pilot scheme 'a success'

An independent councillor has sung the praises of pilot scheme he helped set up to cut fly-tipping in his ward.

Labelling the Don’t Trash Our Streets project in Ashton a success and ‘exhausting but incredibly rewarding’, Cllr Kaleel Khan is confident the programme can now be community-led. 

However, he was scathing of Labour colleagues in the St Peter’s ward, who he alleges were asked to join the efforts: “I reached out to the ward Labour councillors five times when this project began, but my emails were ignored.  

“While I won’t get any credit for showing community leadership from Tameside Labour Group, that’s okay - I didn’t do it for them. I did it for the community I love and am proud to live in.” 

The initiative saw locals in the Holy Trinity area set up a Neighbourhood Watch group, install CCTV to monitor fly-tipping, and help educate people about dumping rubbish. 

Cllr Khan says that aside from a few isolated incidents, previous fly-tipping hotspots around Dean Street, Layard Street, Bentinck Street and Brokedale Avenue have been incident-free since the scheme launched on September 3. 

“Moving forward, the community will take the lead in monitoring and reporting any issues, supported by the Neighbourhood Watch group and CCTV,” he said.

“Residents can still contact me directly if needed, but they are now empowered to act with their own eyes, ears, and tools. 

“This project has been exhausting but incredibly rewarding. Everyone involved has dedicated countless hours of hard work, braving cold, rain, wind, and even snow to make a difference.  

“A big credit to all my amazing volunteers, you are the backbone of this community.”