Leigh's 'filthy' alleyway that neighbours have reported multiple times

As fly-tipping has become a growing problem across the borough in recent years, last month the council announced that it would double be more than doubling the fine to £1,000 to try and tackle the issue.

The increased fines have come after it was reported that the council was spending around £4 million a year dealing with fly-tipping.

However, despite an increased focus on tackling the issue, certain areas like the alleyways behind Railway Road seem to be a perennial problem.

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Jan says that neighbours have reported the alleyway numerous times (Image: Jan Eckersley)
Jan Eckersley, a resident of Railway Road, said that the alleyways behind the main road, between Bengal Street and Coniston Street, have been a growing issue over the past year.

"The alleyways behind our houses our absolutely filthy. It's the first thing you see in a morning and it's just horrible", Jan said.

"There is rubbish left everywhere, bins left open, furniture dumped, and I even saw a dead rat there this time.

"It's not just unsightly, it's a health and safety hazard, and you can't have anyone, especially children, out in the alleyways because it's not safe."

The alleyways have been a hotspot for fly tipping (Image: Jan Eckersley)
Despite the council's insistence that it is tackling fly-tipping, Jan said that she has reported it on the council's online portal five times, yet it often takes weeks for the rubbish to be cleaned up.

After reporting the recent heap of waste in mid-March, Jan said that it has only been cleared this week, six weeks after she first reported.

"It's been an ongoing problem for months, and it's been a vicious cycle for too long", Jan added.

"We are responsible with our rubbish and report [the fly tipping] like the council asks, but it takes weeks for people to come out and observe it, then weeks for someone else to come and clear it.

"We all pay our council tax but you start thinking what is the point when all we're doing is complaining about the rubbish being left here, with seemingly no accountability."

Jan said she has reported the alleyways 5 times in 12 months (Image: Jan Eckersley)
Following the rising issue of fly tipping in recent years, the council said that it is a priority to tackle the problem.

The council has invested in a network of cameras around the borough, intending to target hotspots for environmental crimes and ensure offenders are punished, while a volunteer-led Keep It Clean campaign launched last year.

Speaking about the Railway Road hotspot, Dave Lyon, assistant director of environment and housing repairs at Wigan Council, said: “Fly tipping is a criminal offence that carries a maximum penalty of up to £50,000 and/or 12 months imprisonment.

“While the area in question has now been cleared of all waste, we will continue to investigate and will take action against anyone who is found to be fly tipping.

“We encourage residents to report any incidences of fly tipping in their local area online at wigan.gov.uk/reportit.”

Rubbish left on Queen Street in Leigh town centre (Image: Contributed)
Previously speaking about the issue, Councillor Paul Prescott, cabinet portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport, said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on our environment, creating a hazard for people and local wildlife, and it really damages civic pride.

“We are proposing to increase the fine for fly-tipping from £400 to £1,000, which is the maximum allowed.

“We want the message out there loud and clear, fly-tipping is an unacceptable crime and by fining the maximum that we can, we will show offenders that we take this seriously in our borough.

“Our teams will always do what they can to investigate and enforce against it, and the camera network is an important part of that.”