Westbury resident, Sue Ezra, has expressed her concern about the state of the stairs at the back of the High Street, calling the area a ‘disgrace’.
The location is laden with rubbish, broken electronics and other items of waste, believed to have been fly-tipped.
Sue Ezra said, “It’s a disgrace and there are rats. This needs urgent attention in the near future.”
She has contacted Wiltshire councillor Gordon King about her concern. He replied, “It is council and quite possibly national policy that the council will only pick up waste fly-tipped or otherwise, if it is on council-owned land only.
“As the property at Westbury High Street isn’t council owned it is up to the property owner or their management company to clear the site. Wiltshire Council is doing a property search to find out the owner/landlords and will work with them on this issue.
“As you know, this is not the first time this has happened. Because of that I have asked the enforcement team to conduct an investigation that might well lead to a prosecution. I have also asked them to work with owners to encourage them to be responsible owners and guardians and consider making the care and cleanliness of property and their surroundings a condition of tenancy.
“It is most probably an accumulation over time, caused through poor waste management or use of waste services. I have also asked the waste and public protection teams to work with tenants to educate them in responsible waste management and in using council services effectively.
“I sincerely hope that nothing leads to a prosecution, but that someone (if they are responsible) will get a sufficient shock that they reform their behaviour. I am sorry there may not be a quick resolution to this issue.”
