I am one of sixty councillors in the London Borough of Hounslow a place with an environment as diverse as its population. Attempting to represent residents of Osterley and Spring Grove, the largest, greenest and, obviously, best of the twenty Wards, a fair bit of correspondence of a certain type is received. Colleagues elsewhere for example, get calls for help from their constituents on council housing matters (there are fewer than 50 Hounslow Council managed properties here) and serious anti social behaviour (more likely to be street drinkers here).
Long term flytip on Earl of Jersey and Wates owned ditch at Braybourne Drive, removed recently following Hounslow Council Enforcement Team intervention
Being what it is, the Ward is fortunate to be the home of many caring residents who, whether individually or together in active residents associations, streets and parks groups, highlight issues for resolution with the council and its contractors. These people, often unsung, make a great difference to the quality of life of others in the neighbourhoods that I am proud to try to act for and help me in the work that I do.
My enquiries tend to be on parking, planning, potholes, pavements and a fair bit on flytipping together with other environmental issues such as litter, trees and the occasional neither clever nor funny graffiti.
This Sunday morning, I spent some time compiling another response to a constituent with whom I have had dialogue these past six weeks to resolve waste storage issues at a block near their home in Spring Grove. They also wanted to be provided, “with some indication about how important the council view [flytipping] and how likely it is that the issue I have voiced concerns about will be resolved.”
I thought it should be shared as an example of the type of stuff I do but also by way of explaining how, in these unnecessarily austere times where government grant to Hounslow has been cut by 60%, residents can assist in reporting anti social acts manifesting near our doorsteps. Some detail has been removed to help anonimise and adjustments made for publishing here.
Good afternoon Resident, thank you for your email.
Sadly, nowhere in Hounslow, let alone the rest of the UK is immune from flytipping so it would not be correct to associate the dumping against your side wall with the other issue of waste storage issues at the neighbouring block.
Hounslow Highways contact page for reporting flytips, litter, full litter bins, graffiti, potholes and much more
I have in the past three years, personally noted and reported similar occasional and opportunist events in your neighbourhood to Hounslow Highways via its online portal and encourage others to do so too. Using your photograph, I did the same in your name for the incident you informed me of and have attached the online receipt; you should have also received an acknowledgement via email, please check your junk mail should this not be immediately apparent.
Who to contact for environment incidents in the London Borough of Hounslow
The council’s contractor for flytipping on pavements, among other services, is Hounslow Highways and they are usually very efficient in collecting once reported online. Here is a chart that appeared in Hounslow Matters last year, showing residents who to contact and how for environmental misdemeanours which you may find useful.
Hounslow Council’s Enforcement Team initiatives from Summer 2017 issue of Hounslow Matters
The last issue (Summer 2017) also reported on enforcement [above] and this article also describes a recent intervention.
Osterley and Spring Grove Ward resident’s CCTV capture of Essex based flytipper
Another example of the council’s activity is shown above and explains how a resident’s CCTV camera captured someone dumping fridges elsewhere in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward from which the council’s enforcement team was able to identify, locate and fine the (Ilford, Essex based) owner of the van by its registration plates.
I do not have details of all prosecutions but from what has been provided here, I can assure you that Hounslow Council believe that these matters are important and pursue when there is evidence to show who the perpetrators are.
With regards to the waste issues at your neighbouring block, I am advised by the council’s waste and recycling officers that this continues to be pursued with the block’s managing agents to whom the offer of bulk refuse containers to replace individual sacks has been made and a response awaited.
I share your and other residents’ concerns in these matters and hope that I can assure you that they are never ignored. Obviously, as its councillor, I think that Osterley and Spring Grove is the most important (it’s also the largest) of the twenty Wards in the borough and do what I can to support and improve its environment. I also encourage and try to clarify to its residents how to do the same so welcome your contact as an opportunity to explain how people can perhaps emulate.
As always, am happy to maintain contact and update you on progress.
Thank you
Tony Louki, Labour Party Councillor Osterley & Spring Grove Ward
TL 20.8.2017
Tony Louki's Report Back 