Council removes rat-infested rubbish after five-year campaign (From Enfield Independent)

Enfield Borough Council removes rat-infested rubbish in Hastings Road after five-year campaign from Kathleen Petrides

11:10am Friday 11th January 2013 in News By Hermione Wright

Neighbours are thrilled rubbish plaguing their street has been removed – five years after it was dumped.

Kathleen Petrides, who lives in Hastings Road in New Southgate, campaigned for Enfield Borough Council and Notting Hill Housing to remove the rubbish, which included asbestos, after it piled up in an alleyway behind their houses.

Much to her delight, the council started clearing up the rubbish on Monday after the Enfield Independent highlighted her plight towards the end of last year.

The 67-year-old said: “It was causing a big problem and now we can get on with our lives.”

The rubbish was first dumped in the alleyway behind Evesham Road and Hastings Road in 2008 and, over the years, it had built up to such an extent that she was unable to remove it.

Ms Petrides became increasingly concerned when rats started burrowing in her garden, which she believes had been attracted by the rubbish.

The campaigner spent a fortune on pest control to tackle the vermin and said the hygiene of people living in the streets was at risk.

Ms Petrides told the Enfield Independent in September the rubbish had become such an eye-sore that she was considering moving house.

Although she is not certain the alleyway will remain litter-free, she said she will “just shift it” in future before it piles up.

She is waiting to see if her fence, which the rubbish was leaning against, will need to be replaced or whether it can be painted over.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Chris Bond, said: "I'm delighted we've been able to clear this potentially hazardous eyesore for residents, even though this mess was on private land. I'm happy to work with housing associations and other partners to improve the quality of life for people living in our beautiful borough."