AN ‘epidemic’ of fly-tipping in back alleys in parts of Blackburn and Darwen has been branded ‘disgusting’.

Many of the alleys have been slammed by residents and councillors.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has stepped up its efforts to tackle the problem as part of the ‘Your Call’ campaign with 40 fines issued in the past year.

But despite that residents said the problem is ‘worse than ever’.

Recurring hot spots include alleys between rows of terrace houses, particularly in the Ewood area near to Leach Road, which residents say are a blight on the landscape.

Some areas have been likened to slums by long-suffering homeowners and community leaders. Dumping has even been discovered in ‘gated alleys’, leading to the finger being pointed at local residents for tipping on their own streets.

Rubbish including beds, wardrobes, three piece suites, tyres and paint tins has been dumped in alleys as well as, in some circumstances, needles.

A Lancashire Telegraph investigation found dozens of flytipping sites across the borough.

One resident claimed there was no community pride and said more needs to be done to catch the culprits.

Christine Connell, from the Ivy Street Community Centre - which regularly hosts clean ups in the area - said: “Some people have no community pride.

“I keep phoning the council. Last week there were needles in the alley, which another resident picked up.

“The council keep putting letters through the door every couple of months threatening prosecutions but they never do anything about it.

“I have lived around here 50 years and it has never been so dirty. I don’t want to live in a pig sty.”

Another Hall Street resident said: “It’s disgusting. There’s no community pride. I don’t know what drives people to dump rubbish. Residents should want their own district to be nice and clean.

“I think the council needs to put cameras up, but it shouldn’t have to come to that. That’s the only way we are going to catch anyone.

“The council are always coming round cleaning it up, but it’s the same almost immediately after.”

One Rockcliffe Street resident said: “It has been ongoing for years. These alley ways have always been untidy. The gates have made a little difference, but it’s the people who live in some of the houses who are causing the problem.”

Maureen Bateson, Ewood ward councillor, said: “The council have done quite a bit of alleygating in the area over the last 12 months. Some have been more successful than others. This was another way of trying to tackle what has been an extremely difficult problem.

“Dumping rubbish in the streets and back alleys costs the tax payer money.

“In gated areas, it has to be the residents dumping the rubbish. We have always had problems with privately rented properties and it is an ongoing problem.

“There have been so many incidents in this area. We do all we can and regularly have a blitz of the area, but as soon as it has been cleaned, it attracts more rubbish.”

Councillor Faryad Hussain, executive member for environmental improvement and sustainability, said: "Dumping rubbish is filthy, likely to attract vermin and is anti-social.

“This sort of behaviour goes completely against the spirit of the Your Call campaign, which aims to promote the community spirit in abundance elsewhere across the borough.”

RECENT PROSECUTIONS

  • Tanveer Hussain, of Audley Range, Blackburn, was fined £500, ordered to pay costss of £510.20, pay a £15 victim surcharge and £690.28 compensation for the cost of the council clearing his land near Audley Range.
  • Simon Smith, of Hozier Street, Blackburn, was fined £110 for dumping rubbish, ordered to pay £100 costs, and £15 victim surcharge.
  • Andrew Mathews, of Cornelian Street, Blackburn, was fined £600 for dumping rubbish, ordered to pay £400 costs, and £15 victim surcharge.
  • James O’Rourke, of Sumner Street, Blackburn, was charged for dumping furniture near Sumner Street. He was fined £228, ordered to pay £100 costs, and £15 victim surcharge.
  • Stuart Meadowcroft, of Accrington Road, Blackburn, was fined £200, ordered to pay £185 costs and £15 victim surcharge for dumping rubbish.
  • Sheila McLachlan, of Accrington Road, Blackburn, was fined £100, ordered to pay £50 costs and £15 victim surcharge for dumping rubbish.
  • Ieuan Evans, of Maria Street, Darwen, was fined £100, ordered to pay £425.65 costs and £15 victim surcharge for dumping rubbish.