Quantcast
Channel: Leicester Mercury Latest Stories Feed
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 9894

Disgust at 'rubbish dump' left by suspected fly-tippers in Leicester

0
0
This is the disgusting mess left by suspected fly-tippers near a beauty spot. Old tyres, household waste, mattresses, clothes, packaging and other rubbish has been piled up on an area of disused industrial land next to Abbey Meadows and the River Soar, in the shadow of the National Space Centre, in Leicester. It is the sight which greets walkers, joggers and cyclists using a boardwalk that leads from a bridge linking the space centre and a pretty picnic area to Belgrave and its famous Golden Mile. The photographs were taken by Christina Davison, a nurse and fitness coach who lives in the city centre. "I was out jogging with my labrador, Rosie, when we came across this horrible mess," said the 48-year-old. "Normally, I cross the bridge and head up the tow path towards Watermead Park. "But on this occasion, Rosie headed off along this boardwalk over a meadow. "When I followed her, I couldn't believe my eyes – there was this horrible, grotty, smelly area. All you can see is old tyres, mattresses and all manner of junk, basically a rubbish dump! "There is also an abandoned car which is all smashed up, with a tax disc from 2010. Who knows how long that's been there? Who would want to walk down here to the riverside when it feels like you are walking through a war zone? "Goodness knows what is in these bags – and what is the chance of bored children shifting through it? It's a dreadful thought." Mrs Davison has reported the matter to the city council and submitted photos to its environmental health team via the One Clean Leicester web page. "I thought it was time someone stood up and took a stand," she said. The rubbish, on land off Ross Walk, Belgrave, is close to an area of landscaped wetland and to a picnic area complete with paths, flowers and neatly cut grass. The city council's Abbey Meadows Green Infrastructure Project has created the wetland, complete with kingfisher nesting site, as a prototype for future wetlands and biodiversity improvements for the city. Mrs Davison said: "God only knows what visitors to the space centre must think looking down on this eyesore." The National Space Centre attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to Leicester every year. "It's embarrassing for Leicester," said Mrs Davison. "We need to foster a sense of cleanliness, respect and pride in our city – not this." Cyclist David Millwall, 42, of Belgrave, said the riverside improvements were being spoilt by the eyesore. "It's great what's been done but from where I live you have to pass this horrible rubbish tip to get to it," he said. "Most of it is household rubbish and I've seen people tipping there. They just pull up in their cars and unload – because they can't be bothered to go to the tip." Belgrave ward councillor Rashmikant Joshi said he wanted to thank Mrs Davison for bringing the issue to the council's attention. He said: "I will ensure that whatever action needs to be taken is taken, as a matter of urgency. "We need to be proactive to tackle this type of problem and stamp out fly-tipping, especially as we bid to be UK City of Culture 2017." The rubbish is on private land, but the site is accessible by the public. A Leicester City Council spokeswoman said: "An officer has been out to the site and determined the rubbish is on private land. We are now in the process of finding out who owns the land in order to get them to remove the rubbish. "However, if it turns out to be illegal fly-tipping, we will carry out a thorough investigation and try to identify those responsible. "Fly-tipping is an offence and individuals can face, on conviction, a maximum £50,000 fine." To report fly-tipping, visit: http://oneclean.leicester.gov.uk

Do you know of a grotspot that spoils your neighbourhood? Are you tired of seeing piles of rubbish near beauty spots? Take a picture and e-mail it in to us.

Please include your name and telephone number, and a brief note about where the grotspot is. Send your e-mails to:

newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk

Disgust at 'rubbish dump' left by suspected fly-tippers in Leicester


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 9894

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images