Pensioner fed up with fly-tipping outside Largs home

Anne Gibson, 71, contacted the News after her back garden access and fire exit area was again blighted by discarded waste including old bedding, scooters, lights, and two units of drawers.

Fed up Anne revealed it is the third such incident this year and claimed she has had enough of the problem at Manse Court, in which there are 10 flats.

According to Anne, only a small minority have been dumping their rubbish, including a holiday home where people visit occasionally and leave their litter for others to deal with.

She said North Ayrshire Council is refusing to help as it is a block of flats on private property, without being charged for an uplift.

Anne, a former chef who worked around the UK and abroad, pointed out that some kindly neighbours helped her remove the last fly-tipping mess as it was at risk of becoming a health hazard, and was horrified to find that there had been more litter dumped directly outside her property over the weekend.

She has asked the council to come and pick it up but they have allegedly refused to do so unless a fee is paid.

Anne said: "The last time it happened the rubbish that got dumped took three people to bag and take to the coup after the council said they could not take it away as it is a private building, but I am angry that this has happened again, and just been left outside my property.

"This is all outside by back window and also the fire exit area. Why are people in private buildings in Largs and North Ayrshire, dumping their stuff, and leaving it, and then we have to pay for it to have it taken away? It is not fair.

Fed up Anne asks why should she have to pay for others fly tipping outside her property (Image: Newsquest)

"I am not prepared to lift this filth.

"If the council were to come and pick it all up, I reckon that with the bed and mattress, two units, and all the other bits, they are going to count them up as separate, including the scooters and it would all add up.

"The last time the bins were all filled, and 10 bags were put on top of all the bins, and there was clothes, food and litter left strewn. The binmen wouldn't be able to clear all the bins because the area was covered, and hence why we had to get rid of it ourselves."

Cluttered mess as draws, bed covers and scooters dumped in back garden area and fire exit access (Image: Newsquest) "There have been two different people dumping all the rubbish and I have had enough of it.  The council are saying that as they are not council owned flats, it is classified as private.

"The alternative is that I would have to go around all the flats and ask everybody to contribute towards throwing it away, and nobody wants to as it was not our fault other than those involved in the fly-tipping.

"It is affecting my quality of life. I am retired, and it really is the last thing I should be putting up with."

Anne added: "The last time we had the council down we pointed out the health hazard as it could bring rats and vermin, but the council said it was nothing to do with them as it is a private property, meaning that we are having to suffer because someone else is not following the letter of the law.

"My concern is that this is a never ending cycle and that is why I am drawing a line and saying enough is enough. What is the point in paying our council tax if they can't come and help us in a situation which is not our fault?"

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We have a great deal of sympathy for the tenants and we share the same frustrations that they feel when fly-tipping occurs on public property.

“While this matter is being looked at by our environmental enforcement team the onus is on the land owners / landlords to remove any illegal deposits of waste and dispose of them in an appropriate manner. As it is private land getting involved directly and clearing the mess is outwith our remit.

“There may be grants available from other organisations to help private land owners tackle illegal fly tipping on private land and we would be more than happy to assist in this process.”