A back alley is littered with rubbish and infested with rats because of flytipping, residents say.
An alleyway at the back of Smollett Street in Bootle has become littered with rubbish and construction materials. Images seen by the ECHO revealed the rubbish covered the whole alley, leaving it completely out of bounds for residents.
One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told the ECHO they are "embarrassed" at the rubbish and fear for their safety due to the risks of someone setting the rubbish on fire. They added the piles of rubbish have attracted vermin and gardens have become infested.
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A spokesperson for Sefton Council confirmed the alley isn't to the required standard and teams would be working to clear the rubbish today. The issues of flytipping in the alleyway aren't just a recent issue. The resident added they have never known the alleyway to be clear in all the years they have lived there.
The ECHO previously reported how residents were left with rats in ceilings and flies in every room after flytippers in the area dumped "mountains" of waste outside. But the issue has continued and has now got worse.
The resident told the ECHO: "I've lived here a number of years and I've never seen the entry clear. It's disgusting and embarrassing."
They added "There are far too many rats, huge ones, because of it. My house is full of flies come the summer and the smell is horrendous.
"Someone could easily set fire to it all as well which is a scary thought."
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “Illegally-dumped rubbish can become a serious health and safety problem if not tackled quickly. Dealing with it costs the Council a six-figure sum each year, which is funding that could otherwise be spent on services benefiting local people and communities.
“We remind people that fly tipping is a serious criminal offence and those offending could see hefty fines and repercussions, starting with a fine of £400 issued by Enforcement Officers and a maximum fine of £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a Magistrates Court. The offence can also attract an unlimited fine and up to five years imprisonment if convicted in a Crown Court.
“Officers have attended the site and identified fly tipped items and acknowledge the entry is not to the required standard we would expect. We have asked our Enforcement Team to visit the site today regarding the dumped building materials, following that our Rapid Response team will then attend to cleanse the area.
“People are urged to dispose of their waste in the proper fashion and make Sefton a cleaner and greener place to live, work and visit."
