Birkenhead business owner urges council to tackle fly-tipping

Ripped opened bags of children’s and adult’s clothes, letters, toys and DVDs litter the alleyway between Market Street and Hamilton Square.

It backs on to businesses who fear the problem is out of control.

Among them is Steve Dooley, who runs SJs Buttie Bar, who said the council have known about the problem for months and has so far done nothing about it.

He told the Globe: “I complained to the council last Monday and got put through to Streetscene. They said an inspector would come out and the rubbish would be lifted but a week later and that hasn’t happened.

"It was all in clean bags but since then, the bags have split and their contents have spilled out onto the floor.

“I’ve phoned them again today and can’t get through to them. The council needs to do something about this, especially with the Three Queens coming up this weekend.

“Thousands of people are expected to be coming through here and it looks a real mess – I’m at the end of my tether.

“This is supposed to be the prime spot in Birkenhead and look at it. I’m trying to run a food business here and keep everything clean and outside is just a state.”

Steve told the Globe fly-tipping has also become a problem in Henry Street, in front of his shop.

“I’ve paid for that to be removed myself a few times – I’ve seen rats and pigeons going through it.”

The rubbish in Henry Street.

The Globe understands tenants of the nearby flats are not provided with bins by the council or their landlord and so the onus is on them to buy their own, something Steve doesn’t believe will happen unless things change.

He said: “The rubbish should be taken away for nothing – it’s short sightedness, it’s nonsense.

“I’m sick of complaining about it and so are the other businesses. I complained nine months ago about this but nothing gets done.”

Among the piles of rubbish are utility bills and letters.

Steve added: “The council should be down here going through the rubbish – there’s evidence to say who has dumped it and they should be issued with a fine.

“Maybe people would pay out the £35 for a bin if they were issued with an £80 fine.

“But even if the council move it, that won’t fix the problem in the long run. The people dumping it will just see that it’s gone and think ‘oh, it’s magic’ and continue to do it – it’s not a tip.”

A Wirral Council spokesman said: “This issue with dumped rubbish on Douglas Street was reported to us last Friday and action has now been taken to clear it. Discussions are also taking place between the council and the social landlord responsible for some of the residential properties in this area about their bin provision.

“Enforcement officers do operate in this area to tackle litter and fly-tipping and will take action whenever there is sufficient evidence to identify an offender.”