Huge pile of rubbish dumped at empty pub
Children's toys, tyres and dozens of bags of rubbish – this is the mess that fly-tippers have dumped near a former Black Country pub.
Lorries have even been spotted pulling up and dumping commercial waste near the old Railway Tavern in Bentley, Walsall.
Walsall Council chiefs are now in talks with the land owner to get the industrial site in Bentley Mill Way, Bentley, cleared up.
Arsonists have also been targeting the area, setting fire to the mounds of rubbish and leaving fire crews overstretched.
Bentley and Darlaston North ward councillor Bill Madeley said: "I have been on to environmental health and they are getting on to the owners of the land. It's not just people dropping black bags out of back of cars it is commercial waste. There is major tipping there. We ought to be watching this because they can get in there with lorries and dump all sorts.
"It turns out the company which owns the land has actually got planning permission for offices, but nothing has been done with it and now it has become overrun with rubbish.
"It is really, really bad. There is tons of the stuff, including kids toys, papers, windows, car tyres and lorry tyres."
The pub shut in 2006 and has been a magnet for vandals ever since.
"We need it cleared up as soon as possible," said Councillor Madeley. "It is just fortunate it is not close to houses because it will be attracting vermin."
Councillor Madeley said that Walsall Council's environmental team had been informed.
The rising amount of rubbish around the borough sparked a joint crackdown with Walsall Council, firefighters and police teaming up for a more co-ordinated response after it was found arsonists were repeatedly targeting dumping sites.
Members of the public are also being asked to report fly-tipping spots so fire crews can draw up maps of hotspots.
Police are handing out on-the-spot fines of £80 for those caught setting small fires and the threat of more serious action for large blazes.
