Express & Star

Fly-tipping leaving trail of misery across Wolverhampton

Fly-tipping is turning parts of Wolverhampton into a “horror show”, it is claimed, as the worst-hit hit streets are revealed.

Published
Last updated
Some of the fly-tipped waste at former Woodbine pub in Bushbury

Bright Street in Whitmore Reans suffers more than anywhere else in the city when it comes to fly-tipping followed by Molineux Alley and Lime Street, Merridale – and residents have today told of their misery over the ongoing problem on their doorstep.

A total of 2,487 pieces of fly-tipping have been recovered city-wide in the last financial year – including car tyres, fridge freezers and furniture.

Bright Street resident Jean Cox, aged 78, said: “You can see it piled up on the pavement. It saddens me because I’ve lived here nearly 60 years.

“It used to be lovely when we first came here, but now it’s a nightmare.”

Another resident Henry Robinson said: “I don’t know if we will ever stop it because people don’t take notice and they come with their rubbish at night and tip it anywhere.It has gotten worse over time.”

There were 68 reports of fly-tipping in Bright Street in the last financial year while there were 62 incidents in the alley leading to Molineux and Lime Street.

Councillor Paul Singh said: “If you walk down some roads, it’s a horror show. It’s unacceptable, the main issue is the tip hours, it would be good to see what difference it makes to open them seven days a week, and for longer times.”

The two city tips in Shaw Road, Bushbury, and Anchor Lane, Wednesfield, each open for five days a week.

The list of the worst affected streets in the city came from a council report titled, Environmental Services Performance Data.

The rest of the streets said to be plagued by fly-tipping include: Leicester Street, Fisher Street, Merridale Street West, Haggar Street, Fawdry Street, All Saints Road, Sherwood Street. Staveley Road and Wanderers Avenue.

Overall, fly-tipping in the city has decreased by more than 12 per cent – with 489 instances between 2017/2018 and 428 in 2018/2019, according to council figures.

Colin Parr, Head of Business Services at City of Wolverhampton Council said: “In January, we launched our ‘Shop a tipper’ campaign which has seen a significant reduction in fly tipping across the city – reducing fly tipped waste by 50 per cent.

“As well as continuing to issue fixed penalty notices, this year we have used our powers to crush and seize fly tippers vehicles. We will continue to clamp down on fly tippers.”