A resident of a Newcastle tower block has spoken out against deteriorating conditions at the estate, citing smashed windows, rubbish, needles and dog mess. The unnamed resident of Eastfield House on Tumulus Avenue in Walker described the block as persistently left in disarray, while calling his own flat his “only haven”.
Resident reports years of decline
ChronicleLive documented the conditions of the block and grounds, finding litter, overflowing bins and boarded-up windows. Photos supplied to the Local Democracy Reporting Service also showed dirty floors in the hallways and uncleaned lifts.
The resident said he finds needles and dog mess regularly on the grounds, with the situation escalating in recent weeks. “It’s not new, it has been going on for years, but it’s getting worse and worse. And the council is doing nothing about it,” he said.
Family visits affected
The local said the state of the block is now affecting visits from his family. “My daughter turned around the other day and said she isn’t coming round anymore,” he added. “She thinks she is going to catch something. It is the whole block and the surrounding area.”
“Everyone is in the same boat. You come home to filth and live in filth; it’s absolutely shocking. Nobody should be made to live like this. The only safe haven is my own indoors which is safe and clean,” he said.
Council responds
Newcastle City Council said it has arranged for an inspection at the block to identify any issues and has vowed to take action “as quickly as possible”. A spokesperson said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe, comfortable and proud of where they live, and we take any reports that suggest this is not the case very seriously.”
“In response, we have already arranged for the block to be inspected so that any issues identified can be assessed and appropriate action taken as quickly as possible. We would encourage residents to let us know about problems such as rubbish, dog fouling, graffiti or damage when they arise, as this helps us investigate and resolve issues sooner,” the spokesperson added.
