‘My alley is not a dump’

11:04am Wednesday 20th February 2008

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FLY-TIPPERS have been warned that they face fines of up to £50,000 after residents claimed rubbish was causing rats to infest their neighbourhood.

Martin Baybutt, 61, of Accrington Road, Intack, said rogue tippers had begun using the alley behind his house as a dump.

The property, on the junction of Accrington Road and Whitebirk Road, is also home to Mr Baybutt's business - Martin's Gents Hair Stylists - and he said that in recent weeks the alley had been littered with cans, bottle, large tins of cooking oil and even a TV set.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said an investigation had been launched to track the fly-tippers.

Tony Watson, cleansing and amenities manager, said: "If anyone has information about this, or any other fly-tipping, they should contact us. Fly-tippers can be fined up to £50,000 for dumping normal waste and if they dump hazardous waste could face unlimited fines and imprisonment."

It is not the first time the alley has been a target for fly-tippers. At the start of last year the problem became so bad that residents pleaded with the council after the area became infested with rats living in the waste at the back of terrace.

Mr Baybutt said: "One of my customers said he'd seen a big rat at the back of houses again and it's just becoming a mess.

"Last Thursday I could see someone had dumped a big bag of rubbish out there.

"Whoever dropped it knew the binmen were coming the next day but they didn't pick it up because they recognise our bins.

"I try and keep the back clear so customers can park there but they've mentioned that it looks a mess.

"I don't think anything will stop fly-tippers though, not as long as they have to pay to use council tips. Last year we had a three-piece suite dumped near Peronne Crescent and one night I saw a white van pull up and a roll of carpet was chucked out."