Nicola today raised a serious case of fly-tipping and a lack of response from Sandwell Council with a Government Minister.
She asked Robbie Moore, Minister in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, about fly-tipping in Cobham Road, Friar Park, that had not been cleaned up by the council even four months after being reported.
This builds on criticism levelled at Labour-run Sandwell Council due to their woeful record in enforcing against fly-tipping. They rank amongst the worst in the country for the number of prosecutions for fly-tipping.
You can read Nicola's question and the Minister's response here:
Nicola Richards: "Residents living in Cobham Road, Friar Park, in my constituency have recently experienced fly-tipping in the alleyway behind their properties. Despite this being reported by councillors four months ago, Sandwell Council has still not removed that rubbish.
"Apart from telling my constituents to vote Conservative in May, what further steps can the Minister take to ensure that councils fulfil their duty to remove rubbish quickly?
"My constituents in West Bromwich East deserve better."
Robbie Moore MP: "I am disappointed to hear once again about the fly-tipping that my hon. Friend’s constituents are experiencing for the first time in Friar Park. We are giving councils extra powers to crack down on fly-tipping, but of course it is up to councils to use the powers we are giving them, and it is important to note that the Labour administration at Sandwell Council is once again the worst performing council in the country, with zero prosecutions for fly-tipping last year. That is despite this Conservative Government raising fixed penalty notices for fly-tipping from £400 to £1,000."