A once "vibrant" former hostel has become a dumping ground for litter and used needles amid calls for action to resolve the issue. The former NosDa hostel on Despenser Street in Riverside, Cardiff, has been shut for a number of years.
Once a popular bar and hostel, the large, grey stone building next to the River Taff has been left disused after successive lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its windows have been boarded up, the front door covered in graffiti, and the picnic table area left covered in litter and used needles.
When WalesOnline visited the venue one morning earlier this week, two people could be seen on the site consuming drugs while visible to people on the nearby footpath.
Read more: ' Flytippers who took advantage of community bonfire event by dumping mountain of rubbish warned they face massive fines'
Cardiff Council said officers have issued a warning to the landowner, informing them that the waste at the property has to be removed within seven days. If the waste isn’t cleared, a formal waste enforcement notice will be issued to the landowner giving them 21 days to remove it. If it is not removed the council will prosecute the landowner and get a court order to remove the waste.
Residents and passers-by said they think something needs to be done with the site. "When I pass here in the night, I see a lot of people who are drunk," said Nilesh Sinha. I think it should be re-opened as there is a shortage of accommodation. It would be good for the businesses. Also, it is near the stadium and the city centre." One resident, Probina Ahad, said she also also noticed an issue with drug use in relation to the building.
Probina, 32, said: "It needs to be demolished. It is not doing any good. There are a lot of junkies there and it attracts a lot of attention. This area is quite unsafe as it is." One passer-by, who did not wish to be named, said it is "terrible and a shame" seeing what has become of the former hostel.
He said: "It used to be vibrant. I never went there, but there used to be people walking in and out of there all the time. It is an eyesore [now]. I think I would like to see it turned into something else. It would be nice to keep some of the old houses close to the river. You have to keep some old buildings amongst all the newness that you have."
NosDa announced in March 2020 that it would be closing indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In November 2020, the company said the hostel was still closed, but added that it was looking to reopen in 2021. The hostel remains abandoned and according to Companies House, Nos Da Inn is now dissolved.
Another resident, Mohammed Khawar, who has lived in Riverside all his life, said: "It was running well as a backpacker's, but... it has been closed ever since Covid struck. It can be turned back into a backpacker's. I don't see why not. That is all depending on who the owner is. Maybe they should sell it." Mohammed, 55, said Riverside is mostly "fine", but did say there is a problem with drug users in the area.
On the former hostel, he added: "It just looks run down. It has got a drug problem, but so has every inner city area." Baha Hamid, said issues with drugs and paraphernalia around the abandoned building used to be worse, adding that nos canisters could be seen "everywhere". He said: "Of course you don't want your kids seeing needles in the street."
When asked about the current state of the building, Baha said: "Of course it is sad. You don't want a building staying abandoned." He said he would like to see the place turned into a community hub that could help people in the area. Baha added: "Something for the community would be really good. For homeless people, kids, women, adults."
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has made efforts to get in touch with Cardiff Backpacker Caerdydd Ltd, who are the current landowners of 53 Despenser Street according to the Land Registry. The LDRS visited an address listed as the owner's on the Land Registry, but was unable to contact the owners.
Another address given on Companies House is a location at the Cardiff Gate International Business Park. When the LDRS contacted the business park, it was told that there was no record of a business called Cardiff Backpacker on the business park registry.
Read next:
Heroin addict caught by DNA allowed home to be used for storing class A drugs
Ceiling collapses in student house and lands in living room after warnings to estate agent
The unbelievable state of housing estate that has become a fly tipping dump
What is happening where you live? Find out by adding your postcode or visit InYourArea
