Residents in Uproar Over Street Litter in Middlesex

The older, more genteel among us may remember taking Royal Enfield motorcycles down country lanes at what they claim were responsible speeds. I, Jeffrey Avery have come across several of these magnificent machines gathering dust in garden sheds. British pride in own products has tarnished since then, alongside a responsible approach to street litter.

Every time I drive from my base in Mitcham heading for rural Middlesex, I fear what I will find dumped heartlessly by the roadside in hills and valleys. I’ve heard the residents are up in arms about the state of their urban areas too. I decided to investigate what law enforcement agencies are doing to stamp out street litter, and dumping once and for all.

Have These People No Shame!

Residents Protest Against Household Waste

The Enfield Dispatch ran a leader article protesting against fly-tipping in their part of Middlesex on 30 June 2021. Apparently, residents had had enough of a failed Council experiment to implement fortnightly waste collections.

Their reporter described ‘numerous examples of regular household waste being piled up in black bags next to street bins, suggesting residents had run out of room in their own household wheelie bins.’ It seemed ‘piles of putrid rubbish’ were becoming the order of the day.

• We are outraged and appalled by the increasing incidences of street litter in the area’ one petition trumpeted. ‘This has become a major problem. What were once quiet suburban roads, parks, and beauty spots are now hot spots for the dumping of all manner of illegal waste.’

An Utterly Selfish, Disgusting Criminal Offence

Local Council Denies Responsibility for Street Litter

A second petition on Change.Org's website demanded weekly rubbish collections in Enfield. ‘Our streets are full of rubbish with illegal dumping happening every day,’ it claimed. ‘Restore weekly rubbish collections’ right away. However, the local council hard-balled the idea according to the Enfield Dispatch.

The change to bin collections coincided with the start of the pandemic, a spokesperson explained. This leads to more domestic waste being generated by people spending more time at home. From where I sit, I would have expected the Council to respond proactively to the increased demand, on the basis they are there to serve the people.

What More Must You Do When the Bin is Full

Is the Council Doing Enough to Fulfill Its Mandate?

The article in the Enfield Dispatch of 30 June 2021 continued with a small-scale battle of quotes from local politicians. However, I won’t bore you with their political mud-slinging. Although I will say they and local Council officials share a joint responsibility to manage this situation for the greater good.

Then, on 1 August 2021, the Enfield Dispatch dropped another bombshell. Reports of fly-tipping in the borough had risen seven-fold in just four years since the Council withdrew its elective household collections service. Since then illegal fly-tipping of large items may have become a common sight.

Furniture Dumped at a Shopping Centre

Is Enfield Fly Tipping Out of Control?

It seems evident from the newspaper report the fly-tipping problem is growing. However, the Council hoped to explain this away by saying the situation remains comparable to other parts of Greater London too. They have a point. I Jeffrey Avery have confronted this trend in Beckenham in northeast Kent. But it’s no excuse.

And here I must move on from street litter and fly-tipping in Enfield, after acknowledging the council has committed to ‘making Enfield the cleanest borough in London’ by responding to reports from residents.

I personally believe it is high time to start imposing harsh penalties and naming and shaming offenders. Perhaps someday the Enfield countryside will resemble this photo again. Is this too much to ask? I think not!

Sluice House on a Gantry at New River Bush Hill Park

Valuations and Home Clearances by Jeffrey Avery

Avery Associates is a paralegal service, assisting with the valuation of household goods and deceased estates. We offer a related house clearance service including disposal, delivery to charity shops, and so on. We introduced this service at the request of clients seeking an environmentally-responsible option.

Avery Associates are specialists in RICS probate valuation and complete probate house clearance and operate nationally and are one of the UK's leading providers of estate probate services