Councillors call for fair solution to ongoing fly‑tipping at Passive Close.

Beam Park Labour Councillors Matthew Stanton and Trevor McKeever have called for urgent and coordinated action to tackle ongoing fly‑tipping and poor environmental conditions at Passive Close in Beam Park, following a response from Clarion Housing.

Clarion Housing has confirmed that CCTV is now operational at the site. The housing association also stated that it is developing a broader, long‑term response and has invited the Council to take part in discussions on future arrangements.

However, both councillors have raised concerns that current proposals do not fully address the root causes of the problem, particularly the lack of routine street cleansing and estate maintenance.

Speaking following receipt of the response, Councillor Matthew Stanton said:

“We welcome Clarion’s willingness to engage and attend meetings, and we will be participating in those discussions. However, we cannot lose sight of the fundamental issue here. Passive Close is an unadopted road, and residents are dealing with repeated fly‑tipping alongside what appears to be a lack of consistent cleansing and maintenance.

“Any long‑term solution must start with getting the basics right. Without a proper and regular estate management regime, other measures risk being ineffective.”

Councillor Trevor McKeever added:

“This has been a persistent concern for residents, and it is clear that piecemeal responses are not enough. People living here should not feel that their neighbourhood is being neglected simply because of unclear responsibilities.

“We need a joined‑up approach that ensures the area is kept clean, safely managed, and treated with the same level of care residents would rightly expect anywhere else in the borough.”

Clarion has indicated that potential solutions such as gated access or parking controls may require consultation with residents and could lead to additional service charges.

The councillors have cautioned against shifting costs onto residents for issues beyond their control.

Councillor Stanton said:

“Residents should not be expected to pay more through service charges to deal with persistent environmental problems, fly‑tipping by third parties, or shortcomings in estate management. The law is clear that service charges must be reasonable and properly attributable.

“There is a duty on landowners and managing agents to take reasonable steps to prevent and manage waste. That responsibility cannot simply be passed on to tenants and leaseholders.”

Both councillors also emphasised that, with CCTV now reinstated, there should be greater use of enforcement against those responsible for fly‑tipping.

“With CCTV now in place, there is a real opportunity to take firm action against offenders through tenancy enforcement or other legal routes,” Councillor McKeever said. “The focus should be on stopping the problem at source, not asking residents who follow the rules to pick up the bill.”

Councillors Stanton and McKeever are now calling for a clear and coordinated plan between Clarion and the Council that establishes a consistent baseline for street cleansing and estate maintenance, clearly defines responsibilities between the housing association and the local authority, and ensures any future charges are lawful, proportionate and fair to residents.

They added that they are committed to working constructively with all parties to resolve the issue, but stressed that residents deserve a solution that is both effective and fair.

Further meetings between Clarion, the Council and local representatives are expected as part of efforts to develop a long‑term response.

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