Old toilet seats and drug paraphernalia has taken over the square in Adamsdown
A MOTHER and her nine-year old son who transformed their Adamsdown community square into a beautiful community garden have been left devastated after fly-tipping and drug paraphernalia destroyed it.
Armed only with flowerpots and spades, they turned the square behind their home during the COVID lockdown into a community hotspot in the backstreets of their neighbourhood.
Julianne Kodurand, 51, along with her son Alby, had filled old pairs of wellies and tubs with flower seeds including up to 20 varieties of wildflowers, nasturtiums and spring bulbs.
They even got Extinction Rebellion (XR) to paint a blue mural filled with decorations to decorate the square.
Ms Kodurand, 51, described the square at the end of Sapphire Street as the “pull of their community”.
But now the family are fed up with the square being used as a hotspot for everything from old furniture to old toilet seats- and even needles.
They used recycled materials including old tyres and washing up bowls to make two little ponds until they were taken and emptied to hide drugs
Ms Kodurand said the fly-tipping happens at least once a week and has got worse since the pandemic.
She said: “There isn’t much green space in the area, so to see flowers and greenery really lifted everyone’s mood and put a smile on people’s faces.
“We used the area as a play space, as did our neighbours, for their kids.
“People were travelling all around Cardiff to see these XR murals and they brought money into the area.”
Ms Kodurand has lost her community garden, as well as, now, her patience.
“When your home is continually ruined, it’s depressing and makes you think what’s the point,” she added.
“I spent my own money trying to improve the area. It’s heartbreaking and disheartening. I usually brush up all the leaves during Autumn and tidy the square but I just feel defeated.”
Ms Kodurand continued: “The area doesn’t have the best reputation, but I love living here and there are lots of lovely people working hard for the area. It’s such a shame that we all get fed up even though we do so much for the area.”
She said she reported the fly-tipping to the council over a week ago but it has remained there.
Neighbours Rachelle and John Ellaway, 55 and 60 respectively, said they also reported the fly-tipping three weeks ago but heard nothing back from the council.
Mr Ellaway said: “Litter often blows down Sapphire Street but fly-tipping has only got worse.
“I’d love to move out, to be honest, because the area is just not how it used to be. You want to look after your street but it’s just an eyesore.”
Owen Jones, Labour Councillor for Adamsdown, said: “I encourage all people to report fly-tipping via the Cardiff Gov App (www.cardiff.gov.uk/flytipping). The app is easy to use. You can pinpoint the location on the map, add photos and write a description to help us locate and deal with the problem. The council will remove the fly tipping once it is reported.”
A spokesperson for Cardiff Council said: “We frequently carry out patrols with partner organisations and stop and request documentation from people carrying waste in their vehicle and this will continue.”
They said the delay to the fly tipping on Sapphire Street is due to the weight of it which requires a lorry mounted crane or lorry loader to remove it. Collection was due to take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Has fly-tipping blighted your neighbourhood? Email thompsonba1@cardiff.ac.uk
