Thanet council says it will be sending letters to landlords and tenants at a Cliftonville building following complaints of rubbish and fly-tipping.
The action comes due to fly tipping blocking an alley between properties in Athelstan Road this week with rubbish, mattresses and a fridge while out on the road there was more rubbish and bins not emptied for weeks due to being covered bird mess.
A resident said: “The alley between (particular properties) in Athelstan Road is just revolting, a public health and safety issue along with fire risk as the gate is a fire exit with a lock on.”
Issues with waste and fly-tipping are longstanding in the street but the situation had been improved when daily collections were put in place for communal bins.
Cliftonville West ward councillors say a return to fewer collections from the problem HMO (House of Multiple Occupation) has resulted in the mess building up once more.
Cllr Alan Currie said: “It’s very disappointing to see Athelstan Road once again having a build-up of rubbish and fly tipping mid street. Cliftonville West Councillors requested a daily collection for the communal bins serving the HMO property a couple of years back, these were implemented and really improved the situation.
“A few months ago the daily mid street collection was changed by waste and recycling management to twice weekly and combined with the once a week collection for the communal bins serving the HMO property.
“This just isn’t adequate for the amount of rubbish generated. TDC waste & recycling officers are aware of the problem and ward councillors have been assured plans will be put into place to improve matters.”
Council waste staff have acted to clear the waste this week and Thanet council says an investigation to identify those responsible has been taking place.
A Thanet council spokesperson said: “The council was made aware of an accumulation of waste at a property on Athelstan Road, which has now been cleared by council operatives.
“An investigation has started to establish the people responsible for depositing the waste. The council will send a letter to all landlords and tenants in the building, reminding them of their responsibilities in relation to rubbish and fly-tipping.
“The property currently receives two waste collections each week.”
Outgoing chairman for Athelstan Road Tenants and Residents Association, Matt Shoul, thanked council staff for the rapid clean up but has called for an interim plan to be put in place until a solution can be found.
He said: “The… failure to keep Athelstan Road in a fit state, until a suitable long term solution is devised, is simply not acceptable and surely cannot conform to statutory requirements/standards”
He says there needs to be “ a workable interim system put in place until a proper strategy is established and implemented – the community are justifiably appalled by what’s going on.”
