Anti litter campaigner quits town

A disillusioned community campaigner has quit Oldham after waging war on the “carnage” left by dumpers and fly-tippers.

Lynda Naylor has made her 'life-changing' decision after spending 11 years highlighting the problems to the town’s officials.

Mrs Naylor, who has a background working in health services, said: “Sadly, I've moved to greener pastures.

"It's disgusting that, at the age of 65, I have to up sticks and leave my birthplace.”

In addition to her broadsides, she has a pictorial record of illegal dumping and fly-tipping and her last group of pictures have been forwarded to Oldham Council.

She focussed on Hathershaw which, she claims, is a hot spot area for dumpers and needs to be constantly cleared.

“This problem has been going on for years, but the council have failed to address the problems and support the decent residents,” Mrs Naylor said.

“And there is an additional massive problem now on the once spotless Greenacres, Clarksfield and in other areas owned by buy to let landlords.

“The council enforcement team attend the same locations on a regular basis, but more enforcement required in Hathersaw and Clarksfield.

"More education is needed and stay-at-home residents need to be involved in street litter picks.

“It is a minority causing this carnage and they need sorting out.

"They are bringing the areas down, and they have no regard for others - they are devaluing properties.

“The buy-to-let landlords should be made to pay to for the mess their residents have left.

"There should be follow ups, and if this continues revoke the license so they are not permitted to rent property again.”

In a final rallying call she added: “Come on Oldham - with the right team and approach, it's not too late to turn the bad districts around. 

“Residents, be it owners or tenants, should not be forced out of their homes due to a couple of non-conformists who are hell-bent on creating a hell hole. 

“Get these people into the community doing good.”

Councillor Jean Stretton, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Sadly fly-tipping, dumping of waste and littering happens all over the country, not just in Oldham.

“As a council we have invested extra resources into tackling the issue via Don't Trash Oldham, and our campaign continues to make a real difference for residents.

“Sadly, some people do not respect our local communities by continuing to dump their waste in public areas and through our campaign we have identified this area in particular as a hot spot.

“As a result, we now visit this area weekly and last week we found evidence for one property that backs onto the area, so we will continue to take enforcement action.

“We need more people to report fly-tipping to us so action can be taken, and we need everyone to do their bit in looking after their communities.”

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