Enough rubbish to weigh down a large articulated lorry was cleared during the second phase of Operation Clean Sweep in Cliftonville.

The three-day blitz to tackle a range of anti-social issues involved officers from the council, police, trading standards, and UK Immigration and focussed on Northdown Road where they checked houses in multiple occupation to ensure they are safe, and at businesses checking on food safety and trade waste licences.

Council waste and recycling teams cleared 36 tonnes of rubbish from five premises. The cost for the clear-up will now be recovered from owners.

Seven notices were issued to commercial premises in the area, five for prevention of rats, because of the amount of rubbish that had accumulated and two for failing to obey trade waste rules.

~For full story see this week’s Thanet Extra, out on Wednesday.