Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem, a GP at The Bradford Moor Practice on Barkerend Road, is fed up of the “ongoing” and “persistent” problem of fly-tipping around the health centre.

And he goes as far as to call it a “public health concern”.

On Monday, Dr Hakeem took photographs outside the disabled entrance at Barkerend Health Centre in Hipswell Street.

Another view (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

The extreme mass of rubbish dumped outside is truly shocking.

He told the T&A that though the issue has been ongoing for many years, it has deteriorated significantly in the last four to five years.

Bed frames made up part of the dump (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

“Fly-tipping has been an ongoing problem around our health centre for many years. However, the situation has deteriorated significantly over the past four to five years. Despite repeated efforts from the council and local councillors, there has been no improvement,” Dr Hakeem told the T&A.

All sorts of potentially hazardous items had been dumped (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

It’s not just an environmental issue

“The area has become increasingly unsafe and unsanitary,” added Dr Hakeem.

“From a healthcare perspective, this is not just an environmental issue but a public health concern.

Dr Hakeem (Image: T&A)

“Accumulated waste attracts vermin, creates hazards for patients, and negatively impacts the overall environment around a healthcare setting.”

Dr Hakeem outside his practice (Image: Dr Hakeem)

Deeply concerned

As a GP in Bradford and Clinical Director for Primary Care Network5 in BD3 covering a large proportion of the BD3 population, Dr Hakeen says he is “deeply concerned” about the impact this is having on patients, staff, and the wider community.

“Our primary care network partnership and community partnership with local practices have made numerous attempts to engage with local residents to address this issue,” he added.

This is not just an environmental issue but a public health concern (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

“Unfortunately, the health centre itself has also been affected by fly-tipping, leading to vermin problems, including rats and mice.

“West Yorkshire ICB is supporting us in addressing issues within the health centre grounds. However, the surrounding area remains a major hotspot for illegal dumping.”

Another shot of the dumped rubbish (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

This is not an isolated incident

For Dr Hakeem, the fly-tipping outside the disabled entrance of the health centre is not an “isolated incident” but a “persistent problem”.

“The same stretch of road and verge repeatedly attracts fly-tipping, often within days of being cleared,” he explained.

Bed frames made up part of the dump (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

“The location is to the rear of the practice, on a quieter road backed onto residential housing, and it is relatively poorly lit and less visible.

“This unfortunately makes it easier for individuals to stop briefly and dump waste without being noticed.”

The fly-tipping (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

So what is the solution?

The long-standing Bradford GP thinks the current approach to fly-tipping is “too reactive”.

“Clearing the waste quickly is important, but it does not prevent recurrence. There needs to be a stronger focus on prevention,” he said.

“This could include measures such as improving lighting and visibility, installing overt CCTV with clear signage, and introducing physical barriers or landscaping that make it harder to offload waste onto the verge quickly.

“There also needs to be greater accountability further up the chain. A significant amount of fly-tipping is linked to unlicensed waste carriers, and more needs to be done to deter and enforce against this.”

The GP wants Bradford Council to do more – urging them to install cameras to detect those responsible.

“We are urgently requesting that the council consider installing covert surveillance cameras in key fly-tipping hotspots across BD3, particularly around the health centre, to help deter offenders and enable enforcement action,” he said.

Community action is needed

But, Dr Hakeem also wants to emphasise the vital community element of combatting the blight of fly-tipping.

“Areas that are consistently maintained and where residents take pride in their surroundings tend to experience less repeat fly-tipping,” he said.

“Encouraging greater local ownership, reporting, and engagement can play a role alongside enforcement.

“This is not solely a council issue, it requires a joint effort between authorities and the community to create and maintain cleaner, safer environments.”

A council worker cleaning up the waste (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

He worries it will become normalised

“Ultimately, this is partly a behavioural issue, but behaviour is shaped by environment and habits,” he said.

“If an area is repeatedly used for dumping with little consequence, it becomes normalised.

“To change that, we need to make it more difficult, more visible, and less acceptable, alongside encouraging greater community pride and responsibility.

“I would welcome more targeted action in known hotspot areas, as ongoing issues like this can affect both patients and staff.”

The full scale of the rubbish (Image: Dr Tamjeed Abdul Hakeem)

What the council had to say

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We were made aware of this fly-tipping yesterday and officers have visited the site.

“This is now the subject of a live investigation as we work to gather evidence to identify the perpetrators.

“We have arranged for the waste to be removed as soon as possible.”

The health centre have advised that the rubbish has since been cleared.