Residents celebrate alleyway transformation
Residents have been celebrating after transforming a "fly-tipping heaven" into a "green oasis".
An alleyway between Albert Street and Jericho Street in Oxford has been blighted by rubbish for years.
But with the help of action group Jericho Good Works and Oxford City Council, which has replaced bin sheds, the area has been turned around.
Volunteers from the Greening Jericho group also helped clear up the eyesore and planted flower beds.
Jericho Good Works organiser John Mair, who does daily litter picks in the area, said he had first come across the passage in 2019 and had noticed "fly-tipping at both ends".
He described "big piles outside the garage door" and wild plant beds, which had been had been a "fox's dream".
Mr Mair said he was "doubtful at first" anything would get done but the work has made a big difference.
Joeelle Mann, one of Greening Jericho's organisers, said they had "fought very hard" for the council to take action.
"The bin shed had rats, it smelled. It's all been fixed," she said.
"People we meet now choose to walk that way because it's looking so pretty."
Ms Mann said volunteers had replaced dead plants with "a mix of flowers, bushes and some fruit or vegetables".
She also said a group member worked on a mural to serve as a "place to meet" in the passage.
St Barnabas Church also contributed by donating a bench.
"This little jewel just needs street signs at either end," Mr Mair said.
"Jericho Good Works has offered to pay for them."
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