Mattresses, wood and boxes dumped in Walsall road cause delays
Mattresses, pieces of wood and cardboard boxes were dumped in the middle of a Walsall road, causing delays to traffic.
The pile of rubbish was fly-tipped in Sutton Road, at the junction of Skip Lane, and caused problems for drivers as it blocked part of the road.
It is the latest fly-tipping to happen in Skip Lane. Council workers arrived to clean up the mess yesterday morning.
Councillor Lee Jeavons, Walsall Council's environment boss, said: "There have been 33 instances of fly-tipping during the last 12 months along Skip Lane.
"This is known by our crews as a problem area so they proactively check and pick up from this location.
"Fly-tipping is a major issue in the borough and residents can play a major part in catching the culprits."
Pheasey Park Farm Councillor Chris Towe added: "It is a disgraceful matter.
"Those people who do this should be prosecuted. This is costing the council hundreds of thousands of pounds every year. The money could be better spent on something which can benefit the community."
Last month, the council revealed plans to use secret spy cameras to tackle fly-tipping in the borough.
Walsall Council has spent £345,000 cleaning up rubbish dumped over the last two years and bosses now want to spend £4,000 on eight devices to covertly record offenders.
Each will be positioned in dumping hotspots around Walsall in the next few months and moved around to cope with demand.
Some of the council cash will also be used to pay for hides, filters, lenses, batteries and for the cameras, which will be disguised to blend in with their surroundings.
The council currently uses Domehawk cameras that are fitted onto lampposts, but they are clearly visible.
Bosses say the cameras will gather important indisputable evidence and help increase prosecutions.
Figures from the authority show that items, including bags of rubbish and commercial waste, were dumped on more than 5,000 occasions between 2012 and 2014.
Other hotspots across the borough include Goscote Lodge Crescent and Slacky Lane.
Fly-tipping can be reported by emailing clean and green services at cleanandgreen@walsall.gov.uk or by calling 01922 653344 or 01922 653020.
