RESIDENTS from Weymouth have slammed Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) for not clearing up adequately after a spate of "disgusting" fly-tipping incidents in the area.

Soiled nappies, sofas, beds plus huge litter have been left strewn along a number of streets in the Park District area causing residents to say they feel 'let down' by the DWP and the local councils in charge of the partnership.

As reported in the Echo, the under-fire DWP received thousands of complaints in the roll-out of the multi-million pound Recycle for Dorset scheme in Weymouth and Portland.

Nikki McCarthy, deputy manager of a charity shop in the Park District, said the issue had been ongoing since collection services changed last year.

Miss McCarthy said she had cleared up dirty nappies, old food cartons and empty alcohol bottles that had been left outside her shop in the previous months.

She said: “I think this area has a really strong community feel and it’s just the one or two per cent that bring it down and it just really upsets me.

“I can’t think of any other area in Weymouth that’s got a rubbish problem like the Park District."

Miss McCarthy has now called on the DWP to improve its service to do more in clearing up rubbish left along streets.

She said: "They should put up special cameras, have more people patrolling the area and be more visible to show that they are doing something."

Paul and Gloria O’Neil, 66 and 67, have lived in the Park District for a number of years.

Mrs O’Neil said: “I think it has been getting disgustingly worse in the last year.

“I think the council are bringing the area down more than the people who are dropping the rubbish because when the rubbish is up and down the street, they should be taking it straight away not days later.”

Mr and Mrs O'Neil said on the occasions they reported an individual for the litter left behind, they received no feedback from the DWP.

Resident Tim Clifford, 61, called on the partnership and the councils in charge to be more pro-active.

He said “They come out and sweep the rubbish up afterwards but they’re not doing anything to prevent it.

“Over the last few years, people have put flower boxes around the windows and a lot of people are making an effort and it’s just a few people who just don’t care.”

Karyn Punchard, Dorset Waste Partnership streetscene manager, said that the partnership has worked closely with the Park District community to tackle 'persistent problems' with fly-tipping and litter before the new collection service started last October.

She added:"Our local crews aim to clear bulky fly-tipped items such as furniture as soon as they can. Such incidents are harder to investigate as it is unlikely evidence has been left.

"We have also undertaken targeted education activity in the Park District, including door-to-door visits to explain the collection service and provide free seagull-proof sacks.

"We appreciate that the vast majority of residents in the Park District take pride in their area. We want to continue working with the community to help keep it a safe, clean and tidy place to live."

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