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Flytipping leaves resident feeling trapped at home

Elliot Jessett
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Local Democracy Reporting Service A mattress, sofa and upturned trampoline are among the piles of rubbish in an alleyway.Local Democracy Reporting Service
The rubbish near Grogan Square in Bootle has now been cleared away

A woman says she has become a "prisoner in her own home" due to piles of rubbish left outside by flytippers over a four-year period.

Collette Etherington, from Bootle in Merseyside, said: "I can't tell you how bad the smell is and then there's the clouds of flies and even worse the rats running about having a field day."

One Vision Housing, which manages the flats in Grogan Square, said it removed the rubbish on Friday and was working with Sefton Council by using "enhanced surveillance, a pilot waste disposal scheme and prosecution".

Councillor Peter Harvey, cabinet member for cleansing and street scene, said the council was issuing "hefty fines" to about 15 cases in the borough.

Ms Etherington, who uses a walking aid and electric scooter due to mobility impairments, said the rubbish began being left around her home four years ago and had been affecting many other residents who were frustrated.

"I can't get out and it builds up, so I'm filled with anxiety and worry, and basically just depressed by the whole situation."

Local Democracy Reporting Service Collette Etherington looking out on to her neat lawn garden with brown fence blocking off the alleyway. She is wearing a black t-shirt with eyes on the front and colour triangles around the eyes, and she has a grey, black and white cardigan on. She is holding on the black rail while looking out. Her reddish-brown hair is shoulder-length and frames her face. Local Democracy Reporting Service
Collette Etherington says the way out from her home was blocked up with rubbish in the alley

Speaking from her home, she added: "It's like two different worlds - one in here where everything is nice and another world on the other side of the fence, which is filled with piles and piles of rubbish.

"That alleyway has not been cleaned for three and a half years. I've rang the council on numerous occasions, I've rang One Vision Housing on numerous occasions. I couldn't care less who does it, we all just want it removed."

A representative for One Vision Housing said: "We are committed to improving the local environment for customers and the wider community, and have proactively removed the flytipping surrounding Grogan Square on 21 March."

The spokesperson added it was working with the council on educational and enforcement plans.

They said: "Additional measures include enhanced surveillance, a pilot waste disposal scheme, prosecution and the recruitment of additional dedicated resource to implement the strategy."

Local Democracy Reporting Service Dumped furniture and rubbish is strewn down a long alleywayLocal Democracy Reporting Service
Flytippers can be fined up to £1,000 for the crime

Earlier this week, Sefton Council issued a £400 fine to a person involved in a recent flytipping incident on Kirkstone Road.

Mr Harvey, the council's cabinet member for cleansing and street scene, said: "I hope the issuing of this latest £400 fixed penalty notice makes clear, Sefton Council will not tolerate flytipping and if we identify that you are responsible for it, we will come after you."

He added: "A further 15 similar, possible cases are in the pipeline, so more people may soon be getting an unwelcome surprise visit from our enforcement team and facing a hefty fine."

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