Birmingham Councillors Urged to Join Community Clean-Up at Fly-Tipping Plagued Park
Birmingham councillors have been invited to participate in a community litter-picking event this Sunday afternoon, February 15, at Henry Barber Park in Bordesley Green, a green space described as 'grim' due to severe fly-tipping issues.
'Shameful' State of the Park
Organizer Mike Westley expressed frustration in an email to councillors, highlighting the park's condition with items such as pizza boxes, gaming chairs, baby seats, and drink cans littering the area. He called on councillors, particularly those representing the Bordesley Ward, to 'stamp out' what he termed an 'atrocity'.
Westley stated: "It is no use Birmingham residents being told 'we take action' when action and initiatives are needed before fly-tipping and littering occurs – community involvement and education. You, as councillors for Birmingham City Council, should be showing the lead in resolving the problem."
He emphasized that responses should not focus on 'budgets' and 'costs', urging instead for practical solutions.
Proposed Solutions to Combat Fly-Tipping
To address the ongoing issue, Westley recommended several measures:
- Letter drops in multiple languages to educate residents on reporting perpetrators.
- Installation of gates and cameras in the park to hold individuals accountable for illegal dumping.
While acknowledging that the council had recently cleared 'a large quantity of flytipping from the southern end' of the park, Westley noted that significant work remains, stating, "Sadly, there is still a lot more to do."
Council Response and Broader Context
Birmingham City Council was approached for comment on the situation. Earlier this month, Cllr Majid Mahmood, the city's environment boss, addressed fly-tipping concerns, describing it as harmful activity by 'environmental criminals'.
Cllr Mahmood said: "Fly-tipping harms where we all have to live and work. When it occurs, we act as quickly as possible. Our crews clear hundreds of fly-tipping reports each week, in addition to neighborhood clean-up efforts."
He encouraged residents to use lawful waste disposal options and to report incidents, adding, "We are committed to prosecuting fly-tippers whenever possible and rely on community reports and evidence."
This event underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining public spaces and the call for collaborative efforts between local government and residents to tackle environmental crimes effectively.
