Havering Council Clash With Opposition Over Fly Tipping ‘Grot Spot’.

Local Democracy reporter Sebastian Mann today writes:

Havering Council has clashed with opposition councillors over the state of a fly-tipping ‘grot spot’.

Residents in Beam Park are being left to deal with a large rubbish tip, according to Labour councillors in the ward.

Pictures show piles of broken wood, bin bags, and plastic crates dumped near a fence at the north end of Lower Mardyke Avenue.

A spokesperson for the town hall said it was investigating but had only received one report.

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of rubbish, like furniture or rubble, on public and private land. Offenders can be handed unlimited fines and could spend up to five years in prison.

Councillor Trevor McKeever told the Havering Daily last week: “We have put forward multiple potential solutions and the council would rather suffer the fly-tipping and leave the vegetation to overgrow rather than actually solve the problem.

“In the same month the council launches its latest glossy campaign to get residents to look after the borough, it’s showing how little it cares for ordinary people.”

The council’s Where We Live campaign was launched to encourage residents to make the borough a “safer and cleaner” place to live. Residents are asked to report ‘grot spots,’ where rubbish has been fly-tipped, and take part in clean-ups.

Councillor Matt Stanton said residents had reportedly been told by the council that “this isn’t the council’s land”.

He added: “If that’s the case, they must look at other solutions. We have asked to meet officers on site to talk through the council’s options.”

A spokesperson for the council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We thank Cllr McKeever for bringing this to our attention, and we are currently investigating the large fly tip in the area, which was reported on Tuesday, 5th November. This was the first fly-tipping report we have received for this location.

“However, it is a shame that he has decided to use the Where [We] Live campaign to make a political point against the council when we would expect councillors to support us in helping to build pride in our communities.

“We have set up a way to report grot spots online and we have received a number of reports already which we are starting to action.

“We will look forward to Trevor taking part in the community action alongside staff and councillors to improve our borough for its residents.”

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