Scale of fly-tipping at 'hotspot' captured on film
Images have been released showing the extent of rubbish in what has been dubbed the West Midlands' "worst fly-tipping hotspot".
Items including sofas, mattresses, skips and rubble, had been dumped on Springvale Street and Ann Street in Willenhall, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Councillor Simran Cheema, who raised the issue with Walsall Council in October, said she invited the media to look last week, before the authority cleared Springvale Street on Monday.
But Cheema explained she did not think enforcement measures were tough enough. The council said additional enforcement measures were "in place in the area, including multiple CCTV cameras".
The Labour ward member for Willenhall South has previously said she had "never seen fly-tipping like" it and thought "it's the worst I've seen across the borough".
On Tuesday, the councillor said she was pleased it had "now got to a point where it's clear and not a dumping ground any more".
But Cheema added she was "just frustrated about the process that we've had to take for it to get to this condition".
The councillor also said she did not think "the enforcement measures are tough enough in terms of the fines".
Speaking in the area, she stated: "We have got cameras put up now to sort of catch any criminals that do try and fly tip on the land here.
"But I think there's a lot more proactive work that can be done in partnership with local businesses that are on here with residents and also to sort of maintain the sites and work to stop further fly-tipping here."
Raj Parekh, a businessman who is planning to open a food distribution company in the coming months, said he feared the area could get worse.
"We're looking to put like a 30-van distribution up here now. It needs to stay clear really," he said.
"How long it stays I don't know. It depends how the council police the area and stuff really."
A spokesperson for the Conservative-controlled council said tackling "the scourge of fly-tipping in Walsall" was a priority.
"Significant preparation work was required before the recent clearance of the Springvale site.
"Initially, access to the area was restricted due to vehicles and bins obstructing entry. This was resolved following engagement by Community Protection Officers."
About 20 local firms were contacted through meetings and written correspondence "to ensure the clearance could be carried out safely and effectively".
"Locations of this nature require a coordinated and preventative response," the spokesperson continued.
"Immediate removal of waste is not always the first step, particularly where there is a risk of recurrence and cost implications."
Any people identified engaging in fly-tipping would be subject to appropriate enforcement action, they warned.
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