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Council ‘pass buck’ on fly-tipping
6:10pm Monday 10th March 2008
A COUNCIL has been accused of "passing the buck" after it told residents to foot the bill for cleaning up waste dumped by fly-tippers.
Home owners living in 363-377 Accrington Road, Intack, Blackburn, hit out last month after cans, bottles, drums of cooking oil and a TV set were dumped in the alley at the back of the terrace.
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Should the council pay to clean-up the alley? Add your comments below.
On that occasion Blackburn with Darwen Council cleaned up the waste, but has told residents they must pay for any future clear-up because the alley is unadopted and not the council's responsibility. But Martin Baybutt, 61, of Accrington Road, said the council's behaviour was unacceptable.
Mr Baybutt, who runs Martin's Gents Hair Stylists from the property, said: "The council houses that back on to the alley have no access to it so we are being told it is our responsibility.
"It's just another case of the council passing the buck and placing the cost with us.
"I don't know what we can do with it now because fly-tipping will happen again in the alley.
"Maybe we need to get gates put up at either end and everyone has a key."
A letter to residents from the council's neighbourhood health section, states: "If the back street is not kept clean and free from rubbish the local authority may clean it and recover the costs from the occupiers of buildings to which the street affords access.
"On this occasion, because of the cost of sending out invoices is disproportionate to the anticipated expense, the council is exercising discretion in not recovering the costs.
"However, I must advise you that should the situation recur the council retains its discretion to recover any expenses incurred."
Coun Jim Blackburn, who represents the Shadsworth and Whitebirk ward, said fly-tipping was a problem that needed tackling right across the borough.
He added: "No-one has contacted me about this particular site but the dumping of waste is a problem we are all up against.
"If they come to me and let me know about it then I will raise the issue with the town hall for them."
Your Say YourTelegraph
vikingpower, blackburn says...
5:20am Tue 11 Mar 08
Ragnarok, Valhalla says...
1:21pm Tue 11 Mar 08
vikingpower wrote:Whilst that is an excellent suggestion,vikingpow
Does this mean members of the public can bill the council for cleaning up after their employees that empty the recycling bins?
er,their get-out clause would be that the recycling crew that BWDBC use are actually outside contractors,so the Council could waive any responsibility for their actions...
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MESS: Rubbish dumped in the alley at the back of Accrington Road, Intack
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onlyonesimongarner, says...
9:23pm Mon 10 Mar 08
If every resident of this borough with a Back Alley, was forced to pay for clean up, we would all be Skint.
By the way LT needs a spell checker badly, if they want to be considered a serious newspaper
He added: "No one has contacted me a bout this particular site but the dumping of waste is a problem we are all up against.
"If they come to me and let me know wabout it then I will raise the issue with the town hall for them.
Last point. Good value and decent haircut from the longest established Barber in town