Finally! Darlaston fly-tipping eyesore cleared after 14 weeks
A mountain of rubbish branded fit for a 'firestarters party' has finally been cleared.
The rubbish at Kendricks Road in Darlaston featured mattresses, bath rubs, sinks, furniture and fridges and had been building for more than three months.
The site has now finally been cleared.
A jubilant councillor Doug James, who represents Darlaston, said: "It may have taken weeks but job done. We can't let the yobs win. Darlaston people have pride in their communities.
"A huge thank you to the local workers and local people who raised this issue with me, they are all stars.
"Local workers do not want to see their town being messed up. We have some very proud people who helped."
Councillor James previously raised concerns the 'eyesore' site would put off prospective businesses coming to the town, hamper any chances of opening a railway station on the site as well as attract arsonists.
He said last month: "Potentially this may be a site for the future Darlaston Railway Station if the surveyors ever find it again under the garbage.
"What business will Walsall Council attract to the Darlaston Enterprise Zone with this eyesore for all to see.
"I expect to hear of a huge fire in Kendrick Road very soon, sadly, placing fire service staff at risk.
"This mess is a firestarters party night".
Earlier this year the Express & Star revealed the scale of fly-tipping in the area with more than 30,000 incidents reported to councils in the Black Country, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Birmingham last year, a 16per cent rise on 2012/13 figures.
They cost the authorities £1.8m to remove the dumped waste.
Walsall was exposed as one of the worst-hit areas with 4,599 incidents costing the council more than £350,000 to clear-up - more than anywhere else in Staffordshire and the Black Country.
