CCTV plea to clamp down on Smethwick fly-tippers

Police have been asked to implement the crime-busting measures on Forster Street in Smethwick where gas canisters were dumped.

It comes as residents launched a petition lobbying Sandwell Council to take action on the road which is located next to two schools.

Councillor Zahoor Ahmed said: “I am in favour of CCTV. When it comes to throwing rubbish we are looking into that quite seriously.

“We have caught people and we are doing to take to court. We are doing all we can as a council to make sure things get cleared quickly. There are a lot of things happening and that is all we can do.”

Members of Sandwell Council visited the site with the head petitioner where it was found that cleanliness levels had dipped to a level deemed unacceptable.

The inspection found that the site needed urgent attention including the removal of the leaf litter and discarded gas canisters.

In response to fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour Sandwell Council are considering the request to monitor the site.

West Midlands Police have instructed officers to patrol the area to deter or take action against any person where appropriate.

The police were asked to consider whether CCTV could be installed at the site to deter behaviour and obtain evidence for enforcement action where appropriate.

It comes as calls have also come for CCTV cameras to be installed at another dumping site in Halesowen, Dudley.

Mounds of rubbish were left discarded on Shelah Road in Halesowen – with councillors saying there was ‘no need’ for it to happen.

No excuse

Belle Vale councillor Simon Phipps is calling on Dudley Council to bring in the crime tackling measures in a bid to catch offenders.

He said: “There is absolutely no need or excuse for people dumping their rubbish at the side of the road like this.”

“Shelah Road has unfortunately become a target for this activity recently and they’ll carry on until something is done to catch offenders or prevent it from happening in the first place.

“In a month that is supposed to be ‘The Great British Spring Clean’ it is sad to see that some people treat our area in such a way.

“The Council have been good in responding to this and getting the rubbished cleared away but more needs to be done to stop this from happening over and over again.

“Something such as CCTV should be considered to try and achieve this.”