Express & Star

Tyres dumped in Willenhall road

Around 20 tyres have been dumped near a town centre as a council boss admitted he believes the community is 'fed up' of fly tipping.

Published

The tyres have been left on the railway bridge off New Road, Willenhall, which can be used by motorists to gain access to the nearby Lidl supermarket and is based just a few hundred yards from the town centre.

Willenhall councillor and leader of Walsall Council, has hit out at the tipping, which he says the authority is 'trying everything' to tackle.

He said: "It is the bane of our lives and it is the same for any local authority.

"I'm fed up of people leaving piles of rubbish wherever they feel like it and so are the community.

"It isn't usually residents, it is businesses and this could be another example of that.

"As a council, we are trying everything to tackle this problem, we have increased fines, put covert cameras in place and increased litter picking patrols.

"As a community, we have the Willenhall Wombles who do a great job but they shouldn't have to think about cleaning up 20 tyres left carelessly in the road."

Private enforcement firm 3GS began clamping down on dog fouling, fly-tipping and littering from September last year.

Last year the council stated around 30 tons of rubbish were dumped in the borough every week costing in the region of £120,000 a year to clean it up.

As well as carrying out inconspicuous investigations officers from 3GS provide a visible presence patrolling the streets, parks and open spaces.

They have legal powers to stop anyone committing an environmental crime and will request their name, address and proof of identity.

Anyone refusing to be cooperative can be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act which can result in a £1,000 fine from magistrates.