One taxi driver questioned but no end in sight for Ashfield businesses plagued with poo

A VICTIM in the Ashfield public poo pandemic believes his business has been subjected to “retaliation attacks” after speaking out about taxi drivers using his laneway as a toilet.

Real Estate agent Tim Simpson cleans human poo left in the laneway behind his Ashfield business.

• Taxi drivers using an Ashfield laneway as a toilet

A VICTIM in the Ashfield public poo pandemic believes his business has been subjected to “retaliation attacks” after speaking out about taxi drivers using his laneway as a toilet.

Real estate agent Tim Simpson said “unprecedented” amounts of faeces have been dumped in the alleyway behind his Hercules St shop after he reported occurrences to authorities last month.

National taxi firm 13 CABS has spoken to at least one driver for allegedly using the laneway as a toilet.

Ashfield Local Area Command is also on the case, trawling CCTV footage from Duke St to identify offenders.

Mr Simpson said he was “sick and tired” of the stomach-turning clean-up task.

Tim Simpson, Julie Passas and Rita Lin are fed up with people defecating in the alleyway.

The clean-up task has been described as a daily occurrence.

“I’m at my wits’ end,” Mr Simpson said.

“The day after I reported it I stepped out of my car and there was faeces left all over the laneway and the steps (of my shop).

“I’ve never seen anything like it.

“I’ve contacted the council repeatedly but no one seems to be doing anything about it except for the shop owners who are having to clean it up.”

Business owner Rita Lim’s patisserie also faces on to the laneway.

She said the situation had “improved” in recent days, having suffered past experiences of catching culprits in the act.

13 CABS is matching complaints to data from GPS devices fitted inside taxis to identify further possible culprits.

Stepping over the offerings has become a regular occurrence for the business owners. Picture: Craig Wilson

Head of client services Simon Purssey said the internal investigations are continuing.

“We’re taking the complaints very seriously,” he said.

“We have a team investigating it hard core. We will get to the bottom of it.”

Mr Simpson, who is considering relocating his business after 40 years, has put the problem down to a lack of toilets in Ashfield and delays to the CBD upgrade.

Inner West Council had been negotiating for Transport for NSW to include a toilet in a new commuter carpark as part of the upgrade works.

But a Transport spokesman said “there are no plans to install a toilet in the facility”.

Taxis on Hercules St, Ashfield. Picture: Craig Wilson

More than $300,000 has been raised for the upgrade project through a rate rise introduced by the former Ashfield Council.

Work was delayed earlier this year after Inner West Council failed to secure suitable tenders.

Former councillor Julie Passas has called for the council to install a portable facility in the CBD until permanent options are in place.

Mr Simpson supported the move, saying “it would stop people using Ashfield as a toilet”.

A council spokeswoman said the upgrade would commence in July and take at least 18 months.