COUNCIL chiefs have slammed “criminal” fly-tippers who dumped a barrage of rubbish in a Halesowen road – just days after an area clean-up operation.

Angry residents and local volunteers who had spent hours tidying up the streets around Shelah Road have complained to Dudley Council after a number of bin bags and items were dumped last week.

It is claimed by one resident that the fly-tippers struck during last Friday evening, leaving the road and footpath in “a right state”.

Halesowen News:

Dudley Council workers have since cleared up the mess, but Halesowen North councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental services, has criticised the people who dumped the rubbish.

She said: “People who dump rubbish in the borough are criminals who simply do not care about the impact of their actions on the environment and the cost to the taxpayer.

“We do everything we can to catch these people but we rely heavily on the community being the eyes and ears and reporting details to us, unless there are any identifying features where we can start an investigation.

“The waste has been removed from the site and will be disposed of properly, unfortunately, at the taxpayer’s expense.”

Fly-tipping can be reported to the council online at https://customer.dudley.gov.uk/gis-report/st-cleanse-grit/ or by mobile at www.lookinglocal.gov.uk/dudleycouncil.

People who discover fly-tipped waste are being warned to:

  • Not touch the waste as it may contain syringes, broken glass, asbestos, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances.
  • Not disturb the site as there may be evidence that could help identify the fly-tippers and lead to their prosecution.
  • Do visually try to work out what the waste consists of and how much there is.
  • And do make a note of the day, date and time you saw the tipping, its exact location and whether it is in or near water.