Residents, including Claire Thorpe (left) and ward councillors at Cornhill
Residents who say their street is plagued by fly tipping, overflowing bins, rats and dog mess are pleading with Thanet council to take action.
People living in Cornhill in Ramsgate say commercial and domestic fly-tipping at the council bins in the alley is a regular occurrence as well as many surrounding residents also using the bins because they do not get a waste collection at their properties.
Then there are hazards such as broken glass, gas bottles, toxic debris from refurb works and even human waste which families must make their way through to get to their homes.
Complaints to the council have been made since 2019 but residents say the problem has not been dealt with adequately.
Claire Thorpe has lived in Albert Street, with her property backing on to Cornhill, for the past eight years and says it is now the worst it’s ever been.
The mum-of-four said: “It’s never been great but it’s much worse now. I’m not impacted as badly as some because it is all out the back from me but there are families that have to go through it to get to their houses and flats and it is really bad.
“This year has been really grim with the stench in the summer. There are people who come in a car or van, empty all their stuff and then drive off. That happens all the time and it’s not just locals using it because they don’t have a bin – that’s another issue.
“There are people having to walk with their kids, or with pushchairs, and there are rats and it is really unhygienic and must be a health hazard.”
Claire says a lack of communication from the council is also frustrating. She added: “The council keeps saying they are doing something but never explain what. Even an official sign or CCTV would be something because at the moment it is just a dumping spot.”
Ward councillors Becky Wing and Tricia Austin say they have also been trying to get some action to clear the area and deal with the problems.
Cllr Wing (right) and Cllr Austin (second from left) with residents
Cllr Wing said: “ When I was first elected in 2019, residents drew my attention to the situation on Cornhill with inadequate waste and recycling provision and chronic fly tipping.
“Since then, along with residents, I’ve reported these issues consistently, but sadly the situation is no better. I’ve talked with residents, knocked on doors and undertaken extensive research, and what is clear is that residents living in and around Cornhill have been exposed for some years to overflowing TDC bins and fly tipping, including waste which could have presented a health & safety risk: possible asbestos, extensive food waste, human waste, gas bottles, broken glass and all manner of other stuff creating trip and fall hazards on a route some residents have to use to get to their front doors.
“The two large TDC waste and recycling bins have no signage and so residents have no idea who these are for.
“A significant number of homes on Albert Street, Hertford around the Melrose Cottages and all at Ivy lane have never received a kerbside waste and recycling service, despite the TDC system stating they do. We were told by some of these residents that they have never been issued with the bins/boxes/bags necessary and so assumed the Cornhill bins were for their use. At least one short-term let property states in its visitor welcome pack that all visitors’ waste should be deposited in these bins.
“The overflowing bins attract fly-tipping: residents report cars and vans regularly pulling up to offload into and around the TDC bins. This is cleared daily and where addresses are visible on fly tipping, the Streetscene team have followed it up, with addresses indicating that fly tippers came not only from Ramsgate but Broadstairs and Margate too.
“We appreciate the situation is complex, involving two teams at TDC, KCC, residents, landlords, shop owners and commercial waste providers, but this situation has been going on since 2019 so surely there should have been time to resolve it by now?”
The ward councillors say site visits have taken place and there was an assurance at a council meeting in July that the matter would be addressed by mid-August.
Cllr Wing added: “Sadly we’re not yet seeing any progress and have received no updates.
“We are now in September and Cornhill is as bad as ever it was.”
Resident Jerome Ashworth attended a full council meeting in July to highlight the issue and asked Cllr Steve Albon, who is the member responsible for waste services, whether the council had an action plan to deal with the constant mess or could find funding to support local residents in their efforts to clean up.
In response Cllr Albon said: “We are aware of the issues and acknowledge the need for a solution in a timely manner.
“I have been to the site three times, once with ward councillors and twice with the head of service, to see what we can do and how to achieve it.
“A plan has now been made for providing residents in adjacent streets with the required refuse/recycling collections, agreeing a communal bin location for the flats overlooking Cornhill and agreeing an alternative solution with businesses so their bins can be removed.
“Actions are planned to be completed by mid August and following completion there will be monitoring and use of enforcement powers where appropriate.”
Thanet council has been approached to ask what is being done, when the separate actions are due to be completed and how residents will be made aware of the progress.