A NEW campaign to tackle fly tipping and litter in Carlisle’s back lanes is underway.

The Neat Streets initiative is a pilot that could be rolled out across the city if successful.

The Carlisle City Council clean-up was launched in neighbouring Linton Street and Sybil Street, off London Road.

It saw street cleaners, residents and councillors get their hands dirty to rid the back lanes of rubbish.

The state of the lanes will now be monitored and action taken against anyone who now dumps litter or fly tips in the alleys.

Next week a similar clean up will take place in the lanes behind nearby Alexander Street and Brook Street.

It will then be up to the residents in both areas to keep the streets clean long term.

Letters are being hand-delivered to all those whose homes are connected to the back lanes, asking them to keep the areas clear and pass on any information that allows the city council to prosecute litter-bugs.

If it works, councillors plan to roll the scheme out to other parts of the city where there are problems.

Neat Streets was the idea of city councillors Anne Quilter and Lucy Patrick, who represent the St Aidan’s ward. Both took part in the clean up. Lucy said: “It was hard work but worth it to see the results.

“Let’s hope that it now has an impact.”

She added that in Linton and Sybil Street it was a case of the area being such a mess that it attracted more tipping.

“I think there was such a significant amount of waste that it had got to the stage where the residents couldn’t tackle it themselves.

“Some of the residents said it was so bad they wouldn’t even go out there anymore.”

Anne added: “These unadopted back lanes have been steadily getting worse over the years. We wanted to put a stop to it.

“The residents have been giving us a hand to clean it up and our officers have swept it up.

“Some of the rubbish was horrendous – there were old doors, furniture, dog fouling and household waste.

“Some of the rubbish bags had just been left to rot.

“For the officers’ time and a trip to the tip it has cost about £385. Now the area will be monitored and if it starts to get bad again, action will be taken to identify those responsible.”


Elsie Martlew Elsie Martlew, deputy leader of Carlisle City Council, is now calling on residents to play their part.

“The Neat Streets campaign is one way of working with communities to keep back lanes and other communal spaces free of rubbish,” she said. “We want the back lanes to be cleaner and safer places for residents.

“By freeing up the space, the back lanes can be reclaimed as communal spaces for communities to use,” she said.

“However we need the support of residents to ensure that the problem doesn’t continue.

“We also need information to allow us to prosecute those who continue to dump unwanted items.”

Report problems by email to environmentalhealth@carlisle.gov.uk or call 01228 817559.