RESIDENTS angry at the council’s lack of action over a fly-tipping problem in Bury have started a petition.

Householders complain that up to a skip load of rubbish has been dumped in Spring Street and Shepherd Street, including mattresses, sofas and food bags, with the stench attracting rats to the area.

Mohammed Sohqeel, 37, who lives in nearby Heywood Street, has witnessed the tipping and is one of several people involved in starting the petition.

He said: “This issue is escalating daily. We complain to the council and they just say they don’t have enough funds to do anything.

“They haven’t got an effective strategy and residents are becoming more and more frustrated.”

Now Mr Sohqeel, along with one of his neighbours Seyed Ishtiaq Kazmi, also of Heywood Street, are working together, asking residents to sign a petition to send to the council.

It proposes that the council considers using portable CCTV, with cameras mounted in affected areas making it easier to catch the culprits.

More than 300 signatures have been acquired so far and the plan is to get as many names as possible before sending the list to the council.

Mr Sohqeel says that when the council do clear areas of rubbish, it is quickly replaced with more as the fly-tippers continue to wreak havoc.

He said: “Rubbish is attracting more rubbish. It has been happening for months but seems to have got worse more recently. There was even a bath left in the street.”

Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Fly-tipping is an absolute disgrace. It blights local neighbourhoods and costs local taxpayers a fortune to clear up, neither of which these selfish people care about.

“We are clearing up areas on a daily basis – in fact, we cleared up a huge pile of builders’ waste just last week in this location.

“Unfortunately, every time we clear up, within a couple of days more rubbish has taken its place.

“We are doing our best to keep on top of the situation, but the culprits need to be caught and prosecuted.

“We ask residents to help us by being vigilant, taking vehicle registrations and reporting all information to us so that action can be taken.”