New fly-tipping blitz in Sandwell after £180,000 bill

Sandwell Council says it is continuing to battle the 'huge problem' of people illegally dumping rubbish at sites in the borough and thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money is being spent clearing up the waste.

Bosses say they are committed to investigating all cases to trace the culprits and bring those responsible to court.

Derelict pubs, patches of wasteland and alleyways are among the sites commonly targetting by fly-tippers.

Sites including New Hope Road and Shireland Road in Smethwick and Salisbury Road in West Bromwich have been named as some of the hotspots in recent years.

Council leader Darren Cooper said: "Sandwell Council does face problems with the cost of dealing with fly-tipping.

"Last year, it cost council taxpayers £181,000 in disposal costs alone.

"Fly-tipping is a huge problem for all councils and we face big costs in dealing with illegal and indiscriminate dumping in the borough.

"We are continuing to investigate all reports of fly-tipping where there is some evidence of who is responsible for the offence because we need to find out who these responsible people are who dump loads of rubbish.

"To do this we do need the help of the public and we would invite witnesses to come forward to help us track down the perpetrators.

"It is always difficult to get the required standard of proof to secure a prosecution and so any help we have from witnesses is vital."

Earlier this year, residents called for action after mattresses and bin bags were dumped outside the Newbury Tavern in Oldbury.

While last year the council had to step in after rubbish was repeatedly dumped in an alleyway between Kingsway and Walters Road in Old Warley.

A petition signed by 85 homeowners was handed into the council and bosses responded by installing four gates to seal off the alley.

The council has also been forced to shell out £200,000 of taxpayer's money ridding the area of graffiti over the past two years.

In each of the two years to April 2014, £100,000 was spent removing the vandalism that had blighted shops and properties across the borough.

Deputy leader Steve Eling has said that he would rather the cash was put to better use but has insisted removing graffiti from Sandwell's towns is important to residents.

He said graffiti left on walls would only encourage other vandals to add to it and vowed funds would continue to be used to cover up spray paint and other damage.