BRADFORD Council has highlighted the work it is carrying out in West Bowling after a resident described the area as "filthy" due to problems with rubbish resulting in "rats running up and down the street".

"The whole of West Bowling sees bins being left out and piled high with rubbish," claimed a local resident who did not want to be named. "The area is terrible for it."

The resident also said that when bins are stuffed full, people leave the extra bags on the ground.

He said: "Bins get contaminated because some residents don't understand how to recycle.

"These bins end of getting left out for weeks because the council won't take the contaminated rubbish.

"After two weeks these bins absolutely stink."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Our wardens regularly patrol the area and work with local people advising them on correct storage and disposal of waste.

“We have produced and distributed leaflets advising people on what can and cannot be recycled and what goes in each bin.

“Every day, our clean teams clean, remove rubbish and empty bins.

“We encourage local businesses to clear up around their operations and provide them with equipment and materials such as litter pickers and rubbish bags."

But the resident also said: "The area is so filthy, dirty and smelly. It's just getting worse and worse.

"I've seen rats running up and down the street. There is fly-tipping everywhere.

"The council doesn't seem to be taking strong action to deal with it. Their policies are not enough.

The resident did, however, credit local wardens for their hard work, saying: "Local wardens do come out and check the area, and our local warden has been really helpful."

The Council spokesperson added: “We are sorry to hear about the dissatisfaction of this resident. We work very hard to keep the district moving forwards.

“The council takes action against serious or persistent offenders by issuing instant fines and taking them to court.

“Our ward officers organise frequent large-scale community clean-ups and give specific areas a regular deep clean.

“In the past 18 months we have invested nearly a million pounds of additional money into the area which has funded upgrades to parks, green spaces and public areas, helped community groups, assisted local businesses with grants, and supported leisure and sports activities.

“We will continue to work with local people and partners to make West Bowling, and everywhere else in the district, a great place to live and work.”

 

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