Fly-tippers make residents life a misery

Honeywell Lane Alley Fly Tipping

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FRUSTRATED residents have issued a desperate plea to Oldham Council to catch the fly-tippers who have dumped everything from a mattress to a goat's head in a ginnel.

They say that the rubbish is allowed to build up for almost a month before the council shift it, but within hours the fly-tippers return to dump more waste in the passage on Honeywell Lane, Hathershaw.

One resident, Gavin Clarke (49), whose house backs on to the ginnel, is at the end of his tether with the repeated fly-tipping and is asking Oldham Council to put up CCTV to help catch the dumpers.

The fly-tipping, which started in December, 2015, has seen mounds of rubbish continuously build up. Mr Clarke claims the council allow the rubbish build up for around 25 days before acting, leaving the alleyway clean for a short time before more waste is dumped.

The waste was cleared by council officials as recently as August 4 but hours later more rubbish was tipped.

Gavin said: "Since last December the alley has been cleare for five or six days. It's just a cycle.

"Until people realise they cannot get away with it, it is going to keep happening.

"Once, it got to the point where it was so bad that the rubbish was piled higher than a person - and there was a goat's head in there.

"I just feel like everyone has just given up."

Mr Clarke's frustration has grown since meetings with Councillor Jenny Harrison and several members of the waste management team at his home to discuss methods of prevention have yielded few results.

Furthermore he has volunteered to have CCTV placed on his house as a deterrent to cover the alley - an option the council is considering implementing within certain areas.

He said: "My house backs on to the alleyway but from it I can't see these people dumping this rubbish.

"We have had a spell of hot weather recently and it has been that bad that we cannot open our windows because of the smell and the swarms of flies.

"I don't know who is doing the dumping, and I will help in any way I can, but I can't stand there 24/7."

The council expressed its disappointment at the re-occurrence of the fly-tipping and is looking into measures that would deter the dumpers.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives said that fly-tipping in Oldham is starting to decrease and co-operation from residents is needed to eradicate it.

She said: "We are aware of the fly-tipping issue around the Honeywell Lane area and are equally disgusted and disappointed by it.

"We have been called 11 times since the beginning of the year regarding waste near Honeywell Lane and Tyro Street.

"An enforcement officer has visited each time.

"On seven occasions waste was found, however, there was no evidence present to prosecute the offender.

"On three occasions there was no waste at the time of the officer's visit. On one occasion there was evidence found in the waste which the officer could pursue.

"It comes at a cost to the taxpayer every time we're called out. We spend approximately £1million a year picking up fly-tipped rubbish and it is simply not fair.

"On the whole, reports of fly-tipping in Oldham have actually started to decrease and in the last year we served 867 fixed penalty notices and 122 prosecutions to fly-tipping and littering offenders.

"But there are still certain areas in the borough where it is more common and our officers are working hard to challenge peoples' attitudes.

"We are also currently exploring the possibility of introducing cameras to certain problem areas. The problem only goes away if the selfish few stop fly-tipping."

Mr Clarke added: "My children used to play in that alley and now I wouldn't even let a dog play out there.

"It makes you feel embarrassed for your area, I have been told that this isn't just my problem but a borough-wide issue.

"I know it's hard for the council but we can't just give up, it needs to be made a priority."

Harold Cordwell, who lives on Ashton Road, is also dismayed by repeated fly-tipping in the alley at the back of his home.

He said: "Having lived in Hathershaw for 46 years never before have I seen as much rubbish dumped. Do these people not have any pride in the area they live?

"A few prosecutions would set an example to these people who constantly dump.

"Also the landlords of these properties should shoulder some of the responsibilities for how their tenants behave towards the environment."