A resident has called on the council and Citizen to solve the problemProblems with a “disgusting” heap of rubbish have been going on for so long the eyesore has become a local art installation, a Coventry resident has said.
Andrew Speed has criticised Coventry City Council and housing provider Citizen for failing to resolve the issue, which he said has been occurring for the past five years.
Three bins in a communal bin store at the front of apartments on Bushbery Avenue, in Tile Hill, serve the 12 residents who live there, but Mr Speed said others are also using it to dump their rubbish.
It has left bin bags piling up, overspilling onto the pavement, and causing a stench so bad the 61-year-old says he cannot open his windows for fresh air.
Mr Speed said the council collects rubbish inside the bins but not on the floor, although in some instances they have not taken either as the pile-up has been so high.
Yet when contacting the council and Citizen, he said both have told him it is the other’s responsibility to collect the rubbish on the floor.
He added: “After five years this should not be going on.
“Residents should not have to put up with this – it is absolutely disgusting.
“The council’s stance has been that we do not pick up the bags on the floor and it is Citizen’s responsibility, but Citizen said it is the council’s. It is just going around and around.
“What kicked this off for me was one older lady on the ground floor fell trying to lift the bin lid as she was so frail and there was so much rubbish around.
“I have a serious health condition and have just come out of hospital. In this time of Covid the government is saying to open your windows but I cannot open mine as the smell is so bad.
“We pay them rent and council tax and we should not have to do this.”
Ward councillor Julia Lepoidevin has called for a permanent solution.
She said: “This is an issue that keeps happening and I want to see a permanent solution to this matter. This is not fair on local residents in the community.”