Huge clean-up operation begins outside former hostel and bar in central Cardiff

A council has discovered that a piece of land it was about to take action over after it became littered with used needles does in fact belong to them. When it was reported that the outdoor section of the former NosDa hostel and bar in Despenser Street had become a dumping ground for drug paraphernalia and other litter Cardiff council said that they had issued a warning to the landowner, which is listed as Cardiff Backpacker Caerdydd Ltd according to the Land Registry.

The hostel, which was also once a vibrant and popular events space, became run down after successive lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic. The small outdoor area to the side of the building which looks out on to the River Taff is known to be a location for drug use. Read what people said about the current state of the building here.

The council informed the landowner earlier this month that the waste at the property had to be removed within seven days. If it wasn't a formal waste enforcement notice would be issued giving them up to 21 days to remove the mess.

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Failure to remove waste after such a notice has expired usually results in prosecution and the council obtaining a court order for the removal of the waste. However it has been confirmed that the outdoor space to the side of the former hostel, within the confines of the property's boundary, belongs to the council.

How the area looked until recently:

The mess outside the former NosDa hostel and bar, which includes used needles, is being cleared by Cardiff Council (Ted Peskett)

The picnic benches have also been removed from the site (Ted Peskett)

Cardiff Council started their clean up operation of the small outdoor area next to the former hostel on Monday, November 21. The authority said that contact has been made with the agent who is selling the property in order to find an "amicable solution to the issues that have taken place".

So far most of the litter in the outdoor area, including the used needles, have been cleared away. The picnic benches have also been removed from the area.

The state of things now the clean-up is under way:

The site is almost unrecognisable (John Myers)

Huge numbers of needles and other sharp objects were collected (John Myers)

Multiple staff took on the clean-up operation (John Myers)

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