'I've seen seagulls fight rats at fly-tip spot'

The build up of rubbish is blighting the area, say Peterborough residents

Fly-tipping is spoiling a city centre, residents have claimed after household and food waste was left outside a block of flats.

A broken metal door at Priestgate House, Peterborough, has prevented access to waste bins, resulting in litter being left outside the building.

Concerned Peterborough resident Ian Graham said he had seen rats "running around in broad daylight" nearby and watched "seagulls fight rats" over food there.

Peterborough City Council said it was not responsible for clearing the rubbish as it was on private land. The building's management agent said it was in the process of arranging clearance and repairs.

The council said it recorded a 12% increase in fly-tipping between January and April compared to same period last year

Mr Graham said a contingency plan should have been made so waste did not have to be dumped on the street when a metal door, providing access to bins, broke.

He said the litter was unattractive to visitors and had been left in a conservation area.

"It's wholly unacceptable in the city centre walkway from the railway to the museum," he said.

"I've done everything [to raise awareness of the issue] and the only people interested were Peterborough Litter Wombles - part of the problem is people turn a blind eye.

"It might be on private land but that's a technicality because it is blowing into the road and blighting this area... residents can't open their windows in the heat because of the smell."

Harry Machin, founder of the Peterborough Litter Wombles, said residents had been highlighting the issues with litter for years.

"It's an ongoing problem and not just here but at many flats," he said.

"It's a big problem, it suits the council to say 'it's private land so we wash our hands of it'... it's an easy response for a council that is strapped for cash."

'Not good enough'

Mohammed Jamil, city council cabinet member for environment and transport, said the mess was "not good enough" but the council could not take action on private land.

The council said it recorded a 12% increase in fly-tipping between January and April compared to same period last year and has considered installing cameras for a fly-tip hotspot in Castor.

The authority was awarded £50,000 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as part of a nationwide scheme to target fly-tipping hotspots.

The management company for the property, Eight Asset Management, has been contacted by the BBC for further comment.