Clean-up squad stunned as fly-tippers strike again

A volunteer community clean-up squad are “disappointed” renegade fly-tippers dumped a fresh mountain of rubbish in an area just hours before it was set to be cleaned.

Oldham Councillor Shaid Mushtaq, who represents Alexandra Ward, and his team (pictured below) had informed residents a clean-up at two sites in the area would take place before last weekend.

But when his clean up squad arrived to tackle one of the sites on Friday they discovered the area had been hit mid-stride by illegal fly-tippers who had dumped a fresh heap of rubbish.

Cllr Mushtaq said: “Three days before the actual planned clean-up we let residents know what we were doing, and encouraged them to get involved.

“That was last Wednesday, July 10.

"But then by Friday when the council came back to remove the original rubbish, a new and quite significant pile of rubbish could be seen.

"It was really disappointing.

"We have had considerable success in the area since the start of the Don’t Trash Oldham campaign started some years ago under the leadership of Councillor Arooj Shah. 

"You can see a massive difference.

"We’ve had major success working with residents where we've managed to tidy up the area, clean the back alleys and they've remained clean.”

He said the extra rubbish dumping was a big disappointment, adding: ”Basically, we just need people to stop fly-tipping. 

"We’ve had major success working with residents where we've managed to tidy up the area clean the back alleys, and they've remained clean.

"Fly-tipping creates so much untidiness, unpleasantness, and stench.”

He added: “Before the fresh rubbish is removed the council enforcement team will be out sifting through the rubbish trying to find the identity of the tipper(s).

"It’s illegal. It’s wrong.

"And it looks like a professional bunch of fly-tippers who have just reversed into the alley and dumped the load.”

If the council find any clues to the illegal tippers they vow to take action against them.

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