Last week had arranged a further Community Clean Up in the Burlington Street Area of Newtown which was postponed owing to the snow.
The is was arranged with the two local Churches and also the local Mosque, along with all of the houses being leafletted as well.
The previous clean up we had over 30 participants of which 10 were local residents who joined in once we started and on that occasion we filled some 80 bags which were green so they could be identified.
Yesterday (Saturday 10th March), the 3 Aston Councillors arranged a short notice clean up in St. Georges Newtown, with the Huda Centre. No Local residents were informed and ten people attended from the Huda. All three Aston Councillors were there, the residents and local shop keepers did not recognise any of them and found it strange that after so many years of their amazement to see them all in the area at once for the first time.
I arrived at 11.25am when they were distributing bags and litter pickers, there were no brooms or shovels.
By 12 noon after picking up a few item in half filled bags from outside the shops and the Mosque they took pictures and left.
Now our clean up are for at least 2 hours and we have over 80 filled bags along with bulky items, which were dumped in communal areas.
Clearly, this is an Election gimmick by the Local Councillors who are completely out of touch with Newtown and the fact that locals were talking to me and none of the local Councillors speak volumes, as they just do not know them.
The people of Newtown deserve better interaction, dialogue and representation and not tick boxes. It is definitely time for change and lets work together in order to make it happen.
Finally, we her many phrases, but let me make it clear the work I do is for "Everyone and not the few". Together let us put the "NEW" back into Newtown.
Desmond Jaddoo
11th March 2018