'Fly-tipping filth is a disgrace on our streets'

Stained mattresses, ripped up couches and discarded construction debris blocking alleyways are blighting their communities and stealing away their sense of pride, say residents of a fly-tipping hotspot.

Residents of Smith Drive in Bootle, Merseyside, have said they are despairing at the amount of rubbish building up on their estate.

And they have called upon One Vision Housing, the social landlord responsible for cleaning it, to do more.

A spokesman for One Vision said halting fly-tipping was part of its wider programme of works in its Alleyway Strategic Action plan.

Michael Collins, who has lived on the estate for 59 years, said he had made several complaints to the landlord.

"We phone up and complain but nothing gets done," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"It's been like for this for years and years and it's so depressing. I've got my auntie and uncle living around here and they're both 94 and have lived here for the last 70 years.

"They're both used to using the alleyway entries but they can't come in here anymore because of the filth."

He continued: "I feel ashamed if someone comes and visits and they have to go past this mess. I am proud of where I live but this situation is getting worse and getting everyone down.

"The back entries are a disgrace and they're full of rats."

Kenny Fergusson said the issue was worsening across large parts of Bootle and Litherland, adding: "Fly-tipping has become the norm here. The authorities need to get to grips with it."

A spokesman for One Vision Housing said it was working with Sefton Council to "engage, educate, and enforce through proactive measures".

Additional measures include enhanced surveillance, a pilot waste disposal scheme and prosecution.

Last week, Sefton Council issued a £400 fixed penalty notice to a person for a recent fly-tipping incident on Kirkstone Road.

Councillor Peter Harvey, cabinet member for cleansing and street scene, said he hoped the fine demonstrated that fly-tipping in Sefton was never acceptable.

He said it was "potentially hazardous" and wasted council resources that could be much "better used" to support vulnerable people.

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