A large detached property in Birmingham has been turned into a makeshift TIP – after tonnes of rubbish was dumped on the driveway following a bitter legal dispute.
The city has been plagued by mounds of trash piling up on the streets in the wake of the recent bin strikes but this Victorian home has become an impromptu dump.
Shocking images show how household rubbish, car parts and tyres have been abandoned on the drive of the house on Church Lane, in Handsworth.
Horrified residents said the festering pile of filth started building up after a family living there were evicted about a week ago.
The towering mound now stands around 6ft (2m) after three lorry loads of rubbish were dumped on the leafy road, where property prices average £200,000.
Locals have now called for action to be taken but Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police appear powerless to act.
One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “There has been an ongoing dispute which saw a family being evicted last week. It has been going on for ages.
“Just days after they left the fly-tipping started and on Sunday they dropped off a skip load of stuff. It’s just disgusting.
“There has been a lot of bad blood between the landlord and the tenants from what I understand. It has been quite a bitter dispute.
“I contacted the council and they said it was the responsibility of the new landlord to remove the fly-tipping as it was on private property.
“Police told me it was a civil matter and it was unlikely they would be taking any action because it would be a matter for the council.
“I just hope it can be sorted soon because it’s a real eye-sore to have right outside your front door. How they can get away with this is just unbelievable.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the lorry turn up and start dumping the rubbish at the weekend.
“When the skip arrived I thought it was the council coming to take the rubbish away but then they started just off-loading piles of trash on the drive.
“To look out of your window and be faced with that sight is heartbreaking – the stench is just disgusting.
“With the recent bin strikes it just makes the city a laughing stock – there’s rubbish all over the place and this does not help at all.”
A Birmingham City Council spokeswoman said: “The person dumping the rubbish is responsible.
“With cases on private land, if reported we will try to identify the landowner and get them to deal with it, including serving notices if needed.”
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police added: “Any fly-tipping issues would be for the council to deal with and is not a police matter.”
