Residents of a neighbourhood in Harrow have described the area as an ‘environmental disaster’ due to the amount of rubbish continually left dumped on the streets. They claim the issue has been going on for more than ten years, leaving the place looking like ‘a recycling centre’.
A petition signed by residents of Kenmore Avenue in Kenton was submitted to Harrow Council at a recent meeting of the Cabinet (July 24). They are urging the council to take more action to address the continual problems with fly-tipping in the area.
The petition was presented to the Cabinet on behalf of residents by Kenton ward councillor and Non-Executive Cabinet Member, Cllr Kanti Rabadia. Frustrated residents suggested that the area is in an ‘awful state’, with rubbish returning ‘again and again’ even after removal.
Signed by residents of Kenmore Avenue and Elgin Avenue, the petition describes the northern side of Kenmore as being a particular issue. It states they are ‘disgusted’ about having to live in an ‘appalling, unhealthy environment’ and have even applied to the council to have a mobile fly-tipping CCTV camera in place to deter the guilty parties.
It reads: “It’s an environmental disaster. There are two sites that have become fly-tipping points, the first is just after 317 Kenmore Avenue, where the residents of the flats above the shop along Kenton Lane dump their rubbish. The second one is outside the clothing bank towards the end of Kenmore Avenue.”
It adds: “These two sites have become dumping grounds for whoever desires to get rid of their garbage. Various residents have complained about the issue numerous times to local councillors, local MPs, and Harrow Council fly-tipping division, with photographic evidence. To be fair to them, after reporting the matter it gets cleaned up but a few days later rubbish gets accumulated again and again.”
The rubbish is said to be so bad at the weekend that it ‘gets like Harrow Recycling Centre’ and residents want something done about an issue that they claim has been going on for more than a decade. The petition will now be passed along to the portfolio holder for Cleaner Streets and Public Safety to look into.
Harrow Council has been approached for further comment.
Grant Williams is a journalist and Local Democracy Reporter (LDR) for Reach PLC, reporting on local government, politics and community issues across London. As part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he has contributed to Harrow Online, covering council decisions, housing developments, transport, planning matters and stories affecting local communities across Harrow and Brent.
