Robbie Cooper said he was at his “wits end” over fly-tipping
The cascading rubbish next to Mr Cooper’s home
A man who has lived in his Liverpool home for almost 50 years has said he is at his “wits end“ over a “constant battle” with fly-tippers. Robbie Cooper, 55, occupies a flat in a converted property on the corner of Mill Lane and Binns Road in Old Swan.
Mr Cooper said the alleyway next to his home has become a hot spot for people dumping their rubbish rather than recycling it responsibly. He told the ECHO how it had caused rats to thrive near his home, prompting him to challenge those responsible.
Liverpool Council has completed a clearing of the site and said it will investigate where possible. Mr Cooper said “it is only a matter of time” before the dumping causes somebody to fall ill.
The alleyway next to Mr Cooper’s home has become a hotspot for dumping rubbish
He said: “It’s been going on for a couple of years. The front door of the property is by the alley and they’ve put gates on.
“People are just coming here now and thinking it’s a nice spot to dump stuff, it’s a constant battle. There’s rats off the back of it and it’s never ending.”
“I don’t know what to do, it’s like living next door to a skip. I’ve put signs up, I’ve challenged people pulling up who are throwing their rubbish out.”
Images shared with the ECHO show how Eurobins near the property have been filled to overflowing, while children’s toys, bike tyres and old crisp boxes lay stacked among the detritus. A purple Liverpool Council wheelie bin is also piled on top of bulging bin bags.
Mr Cooper added: “We’ve been associated with property in my family for 45 years. It was lovely out round there, it was so clean, everybody took accountability.
Robbie said he is at his “wits-end” over the “constant battle” with fly-tipping
“Over the years, it’s the way the world’s going. I’m trying to be houseproud, I look after my rubbish but I’m constantly battling. The rats are burrowing holes into my fence and we have to fill them in.
“It’s like every few weekends someone coming along, slashing your tyres, getting it repaired and it happening again. There’s no endgame to it, it’s like putting a plaster on it.
“It’s only a matter of time until someone becomes ill. Lots of children walk past the entry and my front door on their way to school in the morning and on their way home.
“I am at my wits end.”
A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: “Fly tipping and dumping is unacceptable and we share the resident’s frustrations. Issues can be reported through our website at liverpool.gov.uk.
“Where possible we will investigate and issue fines if we have evidence of those who are responsible. Officers will monitor the alleyway in the coming weeks to check for evidence