Plashet Grove, Upton Park 'ruined' by paan spitting

Rustam Sukander took over family property business AS Properties in 2022 and says he has been in contact with Newham Council since then over the issue.

Paan is a combination of betel leaf, areca nut and sometimes tobacco, often chewed in south and south east Asia.

Chewers' saliva is often stained red by the paan, leaving stains when spat out.

Rustam took over AS Properties in 2022 (Image: Rustam Sukander) Rustam, who lives in Forest Gate, said: “I’ve been in contact with Newham Council from the minute I stepped into the office because I saw the state of the area and I wasn’t used to that.

“The street is completely covered."

AS Properties is located in Plashet Grove which Rustam said was particularly blighted by paan spitting.

Rustam said the issue 'puts him down' (Image: Rustam Sukander) "The chronic issue of paan spitting has turned this once-vibrant stretch of east London into a stained, neglected, and unhygienic embarrassment.

“People come here and take pictures like it’s a tourist attraction – they see the spitting and must think ‘wow, people really operate from this area?’

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“It puts me down really.

“It’s all over my shutters and my windows which I get cleaned every two weeks."

Rustam said Plashet Grove has become an "unhygienic embarrassment" (Image: Rustam Sukander) Rustam claimed to have received "underwhelming responses" from the council and mayor Rokhsana Fiaz.

He recalled someone being sent out to jet-wash the street before it became stained again three days later and no further action being taken since.

“I was told by Newham Council that they couldn’t afford to take action or use more enforcement officers but my rebuttal was ‘are you just going to let the area rot then?’

“If action isn’t taken, it will continue to get worse for us businesses.

According to Rustam, the council have provided underwhelming responses on the paan spitting issue (Image: Rustam Sukander) “I’ve spoken to nearby tea shops that told me families won’t come to their shop anymore because it's such a dirty street.

“There’s a lot of restaurants around here which is even more concerning - spitting has become so normal and it’s bad for health and safety."

Rustam said he is considering two options: either launching a community initiative to raise awareness and change behaviours or taking legal action against Newham Council for "negligence".

"The streets remain plastered with red paan stains and business frontages are untouched by cleaning teams.

“The council is the one with the real power here.”

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, cabinet member for finance and resources, and environment, said in response: “Keeping streets in Newham is one of the council's top priorities and our Cleaner Newham campaign is due to be launched at the end of the summer with a focus on how residents can support us in keeping our streets clean.

"Spitting on our streets is something that the council is working with communities to tackle.

"Enviro-crime officers patrol the borough and those caught spitting on our streets are subject to £150 on the spot fines.”