We have asked the Council to remove the black bins on the corner of Star Street and Sale Place. The bins are clearly a magnet for all sorts of dumping, residential and commercial. Residents have asked that the bins be relocated to somewhere less offensive and have suggested round the back of the pub on St Michael’s Street or down towards Sussex Gardens railings.

We were very concerned to learn that the Council has issued no fines for dumping at this location this year and have urged the Council to take a much stronger line against rubbish dumpers.

Labour is determined to take firm action to stop this growing form of anti-social behaviour. If Labour wins the city council elections next May, we will roll out a five-point action plan to get results for residents:

• A “zero tolerance” policy of immediate fines for those responsible for rubbish dumping. The council’s stated policy is to encourage “behaviour change” and that “the polluter pays”. The current practice of sending “educational letters” to residents and business around dumping “hot-spots” is clearly having little impact. Heavy fines will certainly encourage “behaviour change” and ensure that “the polluter pays”.
• CCTV cameras should be located at dumping “hot-spots” to catch those responsible. Other local councils do this and have succeeded in catching those responsible and publicising their details in the local media. Again, this will both change behaviour and make the polluters pay.
• Regular patrols of dumping ‘hot spots’ by city inspectors to signal to residents that this issue is a priority for the city council.
• Closer liaison with landlords and estate agents to ensure that they know that they face heavy fines if they, or their tenants, or their building contractors, dump furniture, household goods, and builders’ rubble on the pavement.
• Locating planters at known dumping hot-spots to discourage dumping by “beautifying” the area. This worked very successfully at the Ashmore and Shirland roads junction which used to be the worst dumping hot-spot in Westminster and is now clear of rubbish as a result.