Despair of 'losing battle' on repeat fly-tipping

Burnley Council says it is working with residents and landlords to tackle fly-tipping

A veteran councillor has said residents are in despair over repeated fly-tipping in a town.

Burnley Liberal Democrat councillor Gordon Birtwistle said he was "shocked" by what he saw and smelled when he was called out by a local resident to Cleaver Street in the town to witness rotting rubbish.

In the last 12 months, Burnley Council has issued 47 fixed penalties near Cleaver Street to people who failed to manage their waste correctly.

The fines range from £80 to £400.

'Unacceptable'

Mr Birtwistle who represents Coalclough with Deerplay said the local authority was constantly cleaning the area but it appeared to be "a losing battle".

“This is not about criticising the council or the ward councillors, it is about the despair I and residents feel about this repeated fly-tipping," he added.

Council leader Afrasiab Anwar said its contractors were out every day cleaning the streets but, within a few days, some are back to the same state as they were before.

He said fly-tipping and littering was "unacceptable anti-social behaviour" caused by "a minority that make life miserable for everyone".

He added the council would continue to work with residents and landlords to help tackle the issues.

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