Rats 'the size of trainers' invade city street after fly-tippers dump waste
City councillor Jamie Osborn showing the amount of rubbish which has built up around the communal bins in West Pottergate - Credit: Denise Carlo
A man on a mission to stamp out city fly-tipping wants perpetrators prosecuted after rats "the size of trainers" were spotted clambering over piles of rubbish.
John Cena lives in a block in Douro Place in Norwich.
John Cena has made 81 reports to the council about fly-tipping in his local area since June - Credit: John Cena
The 48-year-old has reported 81 incidents of fly-tipping at the communal bins to Norwich City Council since June — often with photographic evidence — but claims nothing is being done to bring culprits to justice.
He said: "Since the council closed the Mile Cross dump and moved it to Horsham St Faith, people are constantly using Douro Place's communal bins to dump their sofas and broken glass.
"There's only a handful of bins for dozens of people who live here to begin with, so fly-tipping leaves the bins overflowing and attracts rats as big as trainers.
"When I report it, the council clears it up pretty quickly. But after that I just get an email back saying 'case closed'. That's no good, we need prosecutions."
Lucy Galvin (left), John Cena (centre) and his wife Vicky litter picking around Duoro Place - Credit: John Cena
A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: "Investigations of fly-tipped material were scaled back due to Covid. Many fly-tipped items are things like furniture and mattresses, which rarely, if ever, include evidence that would support a prosecution.
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“Douro Place is an area the council is already paying attention to and while the work on fly-tipping is being carried out, we continue to encourage people to report any incidents in to the council through our website.”
And Green councillor Jamie Osborn has echoed the call for more enforcement against those responsible.
He is a member of the council's fly-tipping task force, which was established this year to look in to "best practice" for cracking down on the environmental blight.
He explained: "Fly-tipping is endemic in Norwich.
"The task and finish force to stop it was finally set up this year after the idea was first floated in 2019, but we've not met in months. Council officers have promised us the data we need to progress but they keep delaying."
The council said because of the complexity of the data the process will take time - but is aiming to complete the work as quickly as possible.
Mancroft ward councillor Jamie Osborn ahead of the council clearing the fly-tipped waste - Credit: Jamie Osborn
Mr Osborn added: "It's an insult to people who live here. Fly-tipping is a priority for them but the council doesn't seem to want to act on it."
John Cena said fly tipping had got worse since the council closed the local dump - Credit: John Cena
