"Fly-tippers dumping rubbish and setting fire to it"

[dutchman]

According to a local housing association fly-tipping has gone up due to the coronavirus pandemic



Residents in Wood End are unhappy after a recent spate of dangerous fly-tipping in the area.

In recent weeks there have been a number of incidents where people are finding secluded spots to dump their unwanted stuff, then setting fire to it before leaving the scene.

West Midlands Fire Service is working with local authorities in a bid to try and tackle the issue, which has seen fires in Ashorne Close and on land between Wexford Road and Lillington Road.

However, the issue isn't being dealt with urgently enough according to some.

Resident Rachel O'Dwyer told CoventryLive: "The rubbish is still there. The council isn't doing anything at all and yet the residents have complained to the council and Citizen. It's a joke. Yet we are all forking out council taxes for what?

"The residents have complained to the council over and over, yet nothing gets done.

"It's not safe for everyone concerned on the street as there are elderly people living on the street and young children as well.

"The council keep saying they can't afford to install cameras to find the culprits but moan about how much it is costing them to clear it - my point is surely it is cheaper to install cameras to find the culprits and get them fined?"

Watch Commander Louie Longhi, of Foleshill Fire Station, told CoventryLive: "We've a few rubbish fires in Wood End - one in Ashorne Close on June 30.

"It’s been an ongoing issue the past few months. People are fly tipping and then setting fire to it and disappearing.

"One of our leads for rubbish fires is speaking to the council and the police to try and stop it from happening."

A spokesman for Citizen said: “We are working closely with Coventry City Council and West Midlands Fire to tackle fly-tipping fires in Wood End.

“During the coronavirus pandemic we have seen a significant increase in fly-tipping in the city and we are collaborating with the council to proactively respond.”

[rebbonk]

Is it really down to 'the pandemic' or is that a convenient excuse that we are expected to swallow?