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Residents of Pottery Road in the Pillgwenlly area of Newport are facing serious issues caused by persistent fly-tipping and a growing rat infestation. According to those living on the street, the area has sadly become a hotspot for illegally dumped waste, including bagged rubbish and unwanted household items. Overgrown and neglected sections of the road provide an ideal environment for rats, described by locals as being “the same size as a rabbit,” to thrive.
Newport City Council acknowledged the problem and expressed frustration, saying it was “as sick of fly-tipping in our city as our residents are.” The council has committed to daily rubbish removal and enforcement measures to tackle the issue. Despite these efforts, residents like Shane Williams, who owns property on Pottery Road, report that the rat problem has persisted for over 18 months. Williams highlighted the impact on vulnerable members of the community, recalling an elderly woman who was “too scared to go out because of the fly tipping [and] rats.”
Long-time resident David Wall, who has lived on Pottery Road for 44 years, described the piles of dumped waste as containing dirty nappies, food leftovers, and a dead rat, which caused intense odors. Wall spoke candidly about the mental toll the ongoing problems have taken on him, saying, “I just found myself being hyper-vigilant, constantly on edge 24 hours a day.” He added that rats have even entered some homes, and the smell associated with their presence is “unmistakable,” with grease marks on walls where rats repeatedly scuffle. He recounted observing children unfazed while chasing rats, an image that illustrates how normal such infestations have become on the street.
Although Newport recorded the highest fly-tipping incidents in Wales last year, there was a 10% decrease compared to the previous year. The council has taken proactive steps to address this on Pottery Road, including the installation of CCTV cameras to monitor and deter illegal dumping. A spokesperson confirmed successful enforcement actions, including fining an offender £400 and pursuing further prosecutions. Council teams continue to inspect the street every weekday to remove waste promptly. However, residents like Wall believe challenges remain, citing that irregular black bag collections every three weeks and confusion over recycling rules contribute to the problem. The council insists that waste such as nappies and food waste should not be placed in black bags, highlighting weekly food waste collections and a dedicated hygiene waste service to assist residents. They emphasize that while the council is actively working to combat fly-tipping, ultimate responsibility lies with individuals to dispose of waste properly.
In response to concerns around fly-tipping, Fly-tipping Action Wales, a national program supported by Natural Resources Wales and funded by the Welsh government, emphasized the broader impact of illegal waste disposal. They noted that fly-tipping damages the environment, threatens wildlife, disrupts communities, and incurs high clean-up costs. To respond to these issues, the group is collaborating with local councils on a national spring campaign aimed at raising awareness, particularly about the dumping of bags next to public litter bins, which is also considered fly-tipping. In addition, Fly-tipping Action Wales is deploying ten new cameras throughout Pillgwenlly to help catch offenders and reduce the problem
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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