'Nowhere to play’ for children on street plagued by flytipping

Mohammed Hussain, who lives on West End Street in Chadderton, says he has been reporting the problem for more than a decade without a solution.

The 34-year-old added flytipping in the area is getting ‘ridiculous’ and he does not want the current generation of children to grow up and think it is normal to dump rubbish behind people’s houses.

Oldham Council says it is working on a solution and looking into a suspect.

Children play in the grassy patch, which is located behind Mr Hussain's house, just off Mark Street.

He said children have ‘nowhere else to play’  with the nearby tarmac play pitch regularly vandalised.

Mr Hussain explained: “It’s filled with broken glass all over the place, so they can’t play there. The only place they can play is behind my house, because it’s got grass and tarmac.”

Broken glass on tarmac play pitch (Image: Mohammed Hussain)

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However, the grassy area is now also beset by flytipping.

‘Enough is enough’

Driven to action, Mr Hussain has tried reporting the flytipping to the council in the past – but found the process slow and cumbersome.

He said: “Two months ago I could hear loud banging noises, like something being dragged. I looked out the window and I saw a guy flytipping, so I quickly got my phone and I was recording him. I got his plate number as well.

“I contacted the environmental health service, but they wouldn’t allow video clips so I had to send screenshots. They took quite a while to get back to me.

“Eventually they did get back to me.

“I had to go down to Chadderton town hall and show them the video as well, it’s frustrating – how long do we have to endure this? How long does this have to go on for before enough is enough?”

Mr Hussain has previously asked the council to install bollards to prevent people driving up the small stretch of road.

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He continued: “I spoke to someone and they said they can’t do it as it’s a public road.”

The frustrated resident is now calling on the council to take action, adding: “We all want to live in a clean environment, and we all want what’s best for our children.

"I wish the council actually did something to show that they care, that’s why people feel like they’re being left out.”

Flytipping (Image: Mohammed Hussain)

Council responds

Cllr Chris Goodwin, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “We take fly-tipping across our borough very seriously and we continue to take action against those who think this behaviour is acceptable as part of our ongoing Don’t Trash Oldham campaign.

“Our officers are already dealing with two cases of illegally dumped waste in this area where evidence has been found, and one suspect is being interviewed in relation to one of these incidents.

“We are also looking at options to prevent further fly-tipping in this area, including a new fence at the bottom of Mark Street which would prevent access to the bypass.

“In the meantime, our officers have removed bagged waste outside the football pitch entrance and works are underway to clean up the broken glass and litter.

“If you have any evidence of fly-tipping or litter in your area, please work with us to catch those responsible and report them today via www.oldham.gov.uk/donttrasholdham.”