Rubbish warning on Metro stations
Sections of the Metro line through the Black Country are becoming plagued by rubbish, nuisance drinkers and anti-social behaviour, it has been claimed.
Campaigners now want to see more done to clean up areas around the bridges and footpaths leading to stops in West Bromwich.
Warnings have also been made that they are becoming hotspots for muggers and thieves, with stolen handbags and purses being recovered around the stations.
Nigel Self, community health officer for Sandwell Primary Care Trust, leads weekly health walks through the town near the Metro route and said problems had been getting worse in recent weeks.
He said one of the worst hit areas was near the Lodge Road stop, but that there was a problem near every bridge or ramp to a Metro station between Kenrick Park and Black Lake.
He said: "I have noticed a serious increase in the amount of rubbish, mainly in the form of beer bottles and cans, which have been dropped over the bridges and near to footpaths along the Metro line. Near to the town centre we have one or two areas where the planted banks are covered with all types of rubbish which makes the place look disgusting. The bushes have been cut back and some areas have had the grass cut which would look very nice if it were not for the amount of cans and general litter.
"It seems to be all along the route but there are particular hotspots."
Centro member for Sandwell, Councillor Roger Horton, said a lot of work went on to maintain the areas around the Metro stations but that they needed any problems to be reported.
He said: "Windows on the Metro don't open so none of the rubbish is being thrown from the trams.
"But if there are hotspots we need to know about them."
