Fly-tipping plagues Wednesbury as tip shut amid coronavirus outbreak
Fly-tipping has increased around a Sandwell town after the borough's only tip closed following the coronavirus outbreak.
Residents say the situation has gotten "very bad" in Wednesbury amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sandwell Council's street-cleaning services is also stretched, making the problem even worse.
People feel they have been forced to step in and clear rubbish off the town's streets.
A total of seven bags were handed over to Sandwell Council on Sunday by Wednesbury resident, Andy Taylor, 51.
He has has been picking litter alongside his sons Matthew, 24, a school teacher, and Bradley, 20, who are currently off work.
He said: "The situation is very bad. There has been no street cleaning going on or very little.
"A lot of stuff has been dumped on the side of the road. It is shame what's going on. It is down to the council and the tip being closed.
"When I'm out walking with my family, I can see the streets getting worse."
He issued a warning to fellow residents about surgical gloves being scattered.
Rubbish is also being frequently dumped on a field down Sandy Lane, in Friar Park, Wednesbury.
It is claimed this is affecting horses which use the field to graze on.
Nicola Davies, 35, from Wednesbury, said: "It is getting worse down Sandy Lane for fly-tipping. What a mess. Even the horses have upped and left."
Sandwell Council closed its joint tip and recycling centre in Oldbury on March 24 in the wake of the pandemic, following Government guidance.
Councillor Maria Crompton, deputy leader of Sandwell Council, revealed the street cleaning team has been reduced. This is due to people either being off sick, social-isolating, or working in other departments such as making food boxes for vulnerable residents, she said.
It is not just Wednesbury that faces issues with fly-tipping. The issue is one that is spread across the borough.
West Bromwich East MP Nicola Richards said: "A number of constituents have been in contact regarding an increase in fly-tipping due to the tip in Oldbury closing.
"Levels of fly-tipping are already high in Sandwell before the tip was closed and this has aggravated the situation.
"I can however see why the tip is closed as making a journey to it would be non-essential travel, so I would urge residents to keep hold and store any rubbish they need to take to the tip in there sheds or garages until this can be disposed of appropriately, or when the operators assess it safe to reopen the tip."
The council is looking to reopen the tip as soon as possible.
However, the centre is currently closed amid the lockdown. Travelling there would go against Government guidance on essential journeys.
Council leader Yvonne Davies said: "The problem about reopening tips is issues around social-distancing. The Government have said that we should reopen tips as soon as we can.
"The council is of the same view. The amount of time it will be closed will be the quickest amount of time possible."
She added: "We have asked people to store their items for a short number of weeks. In time, I'm sure the Government will reopen some of the restrictions."
Deputy leader Councillor Maria Crompton said: "We are still carrying out some litter picking, especially around any dangerous items and serious incidents of fly-tipping, but this is inevitably less than usual due to the current circumstances.
"Staff members have moved to other duties to support our emergency response, including supporting our bereavement services and helping to pack and distribute boxes of supplies to support our most vulnerable residents.
"Littering and fly-tipping are totally unacceptable – the council is pouring all of its resources into running essential services and supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities, so we really need everyone to be responsible and not drop litter or dump rubbish.
"We have issued a clear warning that anyone caught fly-tipping faces a £400 fine. People who pay unlicensed waste carriers – who often advertise on social media – can also be fined.
"Like other councils, we have closely followed government guidance in relation to the tip – and will look to reopen the tip as soon as possible whenever that guidance changes.
"Working with our environmental services partner Serco, we have kept up weekly household waste and recycling collections, and issued advice on storing any large household items and garden waste at home until the tip reopens and garden waste and bulky waste collections start up again."
