Earlier this month it was announced that waste from clearing the fly-tipped rubbish has filled nearly 700 skips and cost £500,000. However, fly-tipping continues to be an issue in the city.

Due to crackdown rubbish is now being dumped on private derelict land in an attempt to avoid the £400 fine if caught by the council.

On Ronald Street, Dresden, the former V.C Savage parking area, which has been vacant since it closed a number of years ago, has become full of litter. However, now residents have seen sofas and collapsible tables amongst other items be dumped on the land.  

The gentleman who rents the garage, who did not want to be named, said he helped clean the alley which runs next to the vacant land because it was such a mess.

He said: "The rubbish there is not the story, the real story is people dumping rubbish in the tenfoots. A few weeks ago a woman who lives around here started clearing it all because it was that bad.

"I took it to the tip for her, most of the rubbish comes from people who live around here who can't take it to the tip because they don't drive."

The council has issued over 350 fly-tipping fines and is threatening legal action against those refusing to pay (LDRS).

In June the authority promised to clear a thousand fly-tipping sites within 100 days, a target which they have achieved. The City Council have also dished out over 350 fines, however many residents have refused to pay with council leader Jane Ashworth threatening legal proceedings against those refusing to pay.

Resident Bradley Williams, 49 said: "I've seen people leave rubbish but they are also using the alleys as well. It has not been as bad recently but people are leaving food waste which could attract rats."

Dawn Scott, who lives on Dunrobin Street said the problem was there are no cameras around and people feel they can get away with it.

The 39 year old said: "The whole area looks a mess, it is full of litter and a bit of an eyesore really. People feel like they can get away with it, especially as there are no camera and others seem to get away with it."

Cllr Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for environment and enforcement advised: "We are aware of the piece of land on Ronald Street/Dunrobin Street, and the waste that has been dumped there.

"This is private land, so we are limited in what immediate action we can take, as we have a legal process, the first step has been completed, which is writing to the land owner to request the waste be removed. If they fail to do this, we will serve a clearance notice."

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