Rubbish dumped in Walsall following Birmingham bin strike
Rubbish left uncollected during the Birmingham bin strike was dumped in Walsall, a council leader has revealed.
Mike Bird, leader of Walsall Council, said bogus waste collectors had advertised services to collect bin bags at bargain prices while the industrial dispute was ongoing.
But instead of disposing of it responsibly, the waste was dumped illegally in Walsall.
Councillor Bird told a cabinet meeting that fly-tipping was costing the authority more than £1 million per year and they were determined to tackle it.
Waste management efforts have been boosted with the clear-up of notorious dumping hot spot in Spout Lane, Walsall and part of the street fenced off.
Councillor Bird said: “There was a social media advert offering to collect black bin bags of rubbish for a £1 each when the bin strike was going on in Birmingham.
“But where was it dumped? Walsall. We know who it is.”
He added: “Spout Lane was costing us £750 per fortnight to clear up the mess that people were fly-tipping there.
“Officers have collected the rubbish and have gone through it to try to find out who has done this. We have put fences around it and signs up to tell people it is a crime and they face a £5,000 fine.
“If people want to live like that then they are not welcome in Walsall.”
Simon Neilson, executive director for economy and environment at Walsall Council said: “The site in Spout Lane is an ongoing problem for us, but there are also problems in the wider locality which we are seeking to address through days of action like this.
“It is simply unacceptable that this site is treated as an unofficial ‘tip’ and it must be heart-breaking for law-abiding residents to look out of their windows every week at a sea of fly-tipping and litter as well as having to put up with the anti-social behaviour of street-drinking and associated noise nuisance.”
“It’s perhaps surprising that we receive, few, if any, complaints about this particular site.
“It concerns the council that it seems to be acceptable that people fly-tip indiscriminately in this street. Residents who take pride in where they live deserve better than this.
“Now that the site has been cleared and secured, the site will be marketed for development.”
