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Residents’ Relief As Fly-tipped Rubbish Is Finally Removed

Published on: 25 Mar, 2014
Updated on: 26 Mar, 2014

Residents of Guildford Park Avenue are relieved that a pile of fly-tipped rubbish that they say was becoming a health hazard has now been cleared away by the borough’s cleansing team.

Judith Drew of the Guildford Park Avenue Residents' association picture by the pile of rubbish last week. It has now been cleared by the borough council's cleansing team.

Judith Drew of the Guildford Park Avenue Residents’ Association picture by the largest pile of rubbish last week. It has now been cleared by the borough council’s cleansing team.

But although they are grateful that it has finally been removed, the residents are fearful that the dumping of unwanted items may continue in the area around garages behind their homes.

Mattresses and bedding materials, white goods and other general rubbish have been piling up for some time. Judith Drew from the Guildford Park Residents’ Association had been trying to get the rubbish cleared, but the matter is complicated as the land on which a good deal of the rubbish was dumped is privately owned.

Frustrated by the mounting eyesore, she rang alderman Bernard Parke (a former Onslow ward councillor) to see if he could help. One of his calls was to The Guildford Dragon NEWS. We took these photos and spoke to Judith last week.

She explained the difficulties of the situation over the ownership of the garages and who those owners are, and the fact there is access in and out of the site of the garages – which is why its appears attractive to fly-tippers.

More fly-tipped rubbish, although by the garages it is also close to someone's home and garden.

More fly-tipped rubbish, although by the garages it is also close to someone’s home and garden.

She said: “About sixty-six per cent of the homes in Guildford Park Avenue are rented out and many have garages. We don’t always know who the landlords are and it seems neither does anyone else.”

Judith and fellow members of their residents’ association always offer a warm welcome to new tenants – many of them students – and help them by explaining the days of refuse collections and which bins to put out when and so on. They have a welcome letter they give out that begins: “We hope you will be happy in this quiet, small and friendly estate and that you enjoy your time here. Guildford Park Avenue is home to an eclectic, cosmopolitan group of people with ages ranging from two months to 80-plus years.”

The letter also warns new residents not to put rubbish out in black sacks as it attracts rats and foxes, and reminds them of antisocial behaviour and to keep a reasonable level of noise between 11pm and 7am. It also lists the phone number of the council’s environmental health team.

An ubiquitous abandoned shopping trolley along with other litter.

An abandoned shopping trolley along with other litter.

However, the unwanted rubbish is not a new problem. Judith explained that it has mounted up before and she fears it may do so again.

She said: “We urge those who live here to keep and eye out and if they see fly-tipping to report it. It would be ideal if the council, the police or whoever could install CCTV.”

Council notice to garage owners warning them of conditions over dumped material on their land.

Council notice to garage owners warning them of conditions over dumped material on their land.

After photographing the mess and also a notice posted on a garage by Guildford Borough Council to garage owners, The Guildford Dragon NEWS contacted the council to ask about its position over the situation.

On Tuesday this week a spokesman said: “When fly-tipping occurs on private land, we do all we can to help locate the landowner and find a solution to the problem.

“We ask residents to be vigilant and report fly-tipping to us as soon as possible. We investigate all cases and will take action against those found to be responsible.

“We clear fly-tipping on public land and also help to remove it from private land if needed. Our environmental health team will take action to remove rubbish if it is found to be a hazard.

“Our cleansing team visited and cleared the site in Guildford Park Avenue on Monday, March 24. We continue to work to find the landowner.”

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Responses to Residents’ Relief As Fly-tipped Rubbish Is Finally Removed

  1. Bernard Parke Reply

    March 26, 2014 at 9:08 am

    Guildford Park Avenue is situated in a convenient part of Guildford in the shadow of our cathedral. It is near the town centre and local transport routes.

    Unfortunately is now becoming little more than a student dormitory area and a burden on the basic facilities offered by the borough.

    No council tax is paid on student lets, neither is there a duty on the landlords to pay a share of these costs.

    I was invited to attend a recent meeting of residents although I am not in the pay of the Borough and speak only as a any other Guildfordian would speak out.

    Perhaps I should emphasis that my title of alderman is entirely honorary and I have no power to contribute to the well being of the town and its people.

  2. Frank Phillipson Reply

    March 28, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    There should be a register of owners of all properties kept by the council so that the absent landlords of properties let out by them can be held responsible for the problems their tenants cause.
    Is it not possible to access Land Registry records?

  3. Bernard Parke Reply

    March 30, 2014 at 7:39 am

    There is no reason why the landlord or his agent should not be held responsible.

    Also CEO’s (traffic wardens) could be used to place warning stickers on the offenders bins, etc.

    In certain countries in Europe householders are held responsible to keep the frontages of their homes clean.

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