Frequent tipping a ‘health risk’
MANSFIELD RESIDENTS HAVE SPOTTED RATS AMONG DUMPED MATTRESSES AND BIN BAGS
RESIDENTS have described seeing rats and say fires are being caused by a serious fly-tipping problem in an alley behind their homes.
Mattresses, cardboard boxes and bags of rubbish are “regularly” dumped in the alleyway between Victoria Street and Moor Street in Mansfield, which connects the back of properties on both roads.
People in the area have said it has got to the point where they “refuse to go out back” as a result of the frequent dumping, and have been calling for action from Mansfield District Council.
Glenn Booth, 56, who lives on Victoria Street, says he has spoken with the council on numerous occasions but feels “nothing is getting sorted”.
“I have stopped using the back gate now because of it. It’s a health and safety and a fire risk,” he said.
“It has been going on since before Christmas and it’s getting worse.
“We’ve asked for cameras and the council said they would look into it but this never occurred. There’s been a few fires back there and the fire service have been out, but nothing is getting sorted. And I know there are rats out there because my cats keep bringing them in.
“We’ve been told to clear it up ourselves but it’s not our problem to sort, I’ve moved my bins to the front because I refuse to go out back.”
Michael Melbourne, 74, who lives next door to Mr Booth, also spoke out about the issue.
He told the Post: “It’s been going on for a long time and both me and Glenn have been trying to get it sorted. It got to the point where we were clearing it up ourselves but then people would think it’s our responsibility, so we’re not doing it anymore. And when we did remove the rubbish more would appear again, I don’t know whether it’s a company or an individual but it happens a lot.
“We’ve tried with the council to install CCTV and stop it from happening but it’s getting nowhere.
“I don’t understand why the council have said it is not a viable area for CCTV, because there’s a camera outside the shop and one covering the Salvation Army building. With the camera we would be able to catch the people in the act and have evidence that they’re doing it.”
However, the council says it is not responsible for the alley and, while it is investigating the incidents, has encouraged residents to take action into their own hands.
David Evans, head of health and communities said: “We are currently investigating fly-tipping in this location and would urge anyone who knows who dumped this rubbish to get in touch.
“The problem is that it is on land that the council does not own and therefore has no duty to clear.
“The alley is jointly the responsibility of the properties adjoining it.
“In the absence of any evidence of who dumped the rubbish, the only course of action is for the residents to collectively arrange for it to be cleared and to share that cost.
“We have looked into using CCTV and other measures but unfortunately no suitable solution has been identified for the location.”
A FORMER bar manager has found a way to keep drinks flowing for thirsty Londoners by creating a pub on wheels.
George Dean, 25, says he wants to bring back the “experience of a pub” to make the coronavirus lockdown more bearable.
Mr Dean and his business partner Finn Bruce, 28, started Pub To Your Door, a service delivering pints of beer and glasses of Prosecco straight to people’s doorstep, at the end of January.
Drinks are driven around and poured from a refitted van, with the beer provided by Camden brewery.
Operations began three weeks ago but Mr Dean says he and his “co-pilot” James Mair have already poured almost 600 pints for eager punters in south west London.
Mr Dean holds both a premises licence and a personal licence for selling alcohol and is able to provide the service as it is a delivery rather than a takeaway.