Stinky rubbish dump mountain is finally cleared on Milton Keynes estate
Residents who have lived with a mountain of smelly rubbish on their doorstep can finally breathe a sigh of relief following a clearance campaign.
The residents of a block of houses and flats on Eagle Farm South share a bin store that is designed to be locked to stop outsiders from using it.
However the locks broke and flytippers swiftly moved in, dumping so much rubbish that it rendered the store inaccessible – even to the city’s refuse collection contractors.
The residents, together with their local Danesborough councillor Johnny Luk, raised concerns with Sage Homes, who are responsible for maintaining communal bin stores at the site. As a result, this month Sage Homes worked with their local contractors to clean up the mess and have now pledged to repair the locks to prevent it from happening again,
While residents have welcomed the move, they say more action is needed to keep estates in Milton Keynes clean.
Cllr Luk said: “Fly-tipping remains a problem in a number of neighbourhoods across Milton Keynes, with dumped rubbish posing a serious public health concern, including attracting pesst, particularly during the recent hot weather.”
He added: “I’m pleased the rubbish has now been cleared and that locks will be repaired, but this cannot become a cycle of clearing up after the same offenders time and again, which is a nightmare for residents.”
A large build-up of rubbish can occur when regular collections are obstructed by fly-tipped waste or if recycling bins are contaminated.
Cllr Luk, who is Conservative, said: “The vast majority of residents dispose of their waste responsibly, but a small minority are blighting our communities by fly-tipping at everyone else’s expense. It’s also unfair on the waste removal teams who are working under difficult conditions.
“We need longer term solutions to proactively deter persistent offenders, including coordination with our neighbourhood policing teams in hotspot areas and where appropriatethat might include strategically placed CCTV at relevant bin stores.”
He added: “I welcome a new fly tipping action plan from Milton Keynes City Council, including higher penalties for larger scale offences and seizing vehicles involved in waste crimes, I will monitor closely the effectiveness of these measures.”
To report fly-tipping, visit here.