No one who who has walked around the streets of Central Southsea Ward can have failed to notice the rubbish littering the place. With so much rental property, pavements are constantly strewn with household waste as a result of flats and houses being cleared out between tenancies. The council are doing what they can to remove it, but it’s clear it’s a big problem which doesn’t make our lives any easier.

However, there is a simple way people can help to address this and that’s by reporting it to them using the myPortsmouth app for smartphones. This allows you to take photos of the offending items, report the address and/or location to the council and they will then come and remove it.

As more and more houses are being turned into HMOs, (homes in multiple occupation), the problem is only going to get worse. I want to see the area clear of this nuisance and the streets free from hazards to pedestrians. Parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users, the visually impaired and those who use mobility scooters have an even worse time negotiating these obstacles, which cannot be right. The pavements are meant for us all to travel on, to get from place to place, they are not meant to be a never ending rubbish tip.

Reporting this nuisance and making sure its removal is enforced is something I am committed to. I also believe landlords should ensure their properties are cleared responsibly and be held accountable for any inappropriate waste – contributing towards the cost of its removal. I believe that only if this is enforced can we help to keep the council’s costs down and make our ward an even better place to live.