Full of dumped carpets, sofas and even beds, could this be the most fly-ridden street in Britain?
Tannahill Road in Painsley, Scotland, was once a thriving community and is now overrun with rubbish, which has angered residents and created a breeding ground for rats.
Although the abandoned housing estate, located in the Ferguslie Park area, is due to be demolished next month, local residents are fed up with the ever-growing mountains of rubbish.
Tommy Eggerty, 75, who lived on Tannahill Road for 19 years before moving to the area, expressed frustration at the lack of action from the council.
He said: “The council doesn’t want anything to do with it. It has been going on for centuries; they didn’t do anything. They have to take their finger out.
‘If it happened where they were staying, they wouldn’t put up with it. It’s ridiculous because it will be full of rats, that’s for sure.’
Click here to change the format of this module
The former resident suspects that a number of people have come from ‘everywhere’ to dump ‘all kinds’ on the street.
He suggested, “Catch a few. I think they should have a guard here, even during the day, because they don’t just tip at night.’
He even revealed how a local bus was unable to travel its usual route last week because there was ‘rubbish being dumped in the middle of the road and carpets everywhere.’
The derelict estate on Tannahill Road will be demolished in July, following the approval of a £630,000 contract with demolition company Caskie, which will see 51 blocks of vacant social housing destroyed over the course of a year.
However, one private homeowner remains, while the municipality is in negotiations to acquire the property.
Tommy added: “It could be a nice place. I don’t know if they’re building on that, I don’t know what their goal is.”
The demolition will affect properties on Ferguslie Park Avenue, Drums Avenue, Tannahill Road and Tannahill Terrace.
The move was greeted with relief by the community, including Terry McTernan, chairman of Ferguslie Community Council.
Click here to change the format of this module
He said: ‘We are pleased that this has finally worked out. As I’ve said before, if it were up to us we would have it demolished tomorrow, but we appreciate that there are processes that need to be followed.”
“I would like to compliment the council on their increased and regular communication with us in recent months, especially in relation to tipping.
‘It has to be said that tipping is getting worse again. Lately the buses couldn’t even get through because of the rollovers.
“I understand that attempts are being made to reroute the bus route for obvious reasons, but until that is done the bus will still have to pass through.”
The derelict residential area is also said to have been a magnet for anti-social behaviour, with the local authority recently confirming that there had been 16 fires in recent months.
Councilor Graeme Clark, Labor representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, acknowledged the severity of the situation at a recent council meeting, citing multiple serious fires and significant robberies in the area.
Councilor John Shaw, SNP representative for Renfrew North and Braehead, echoed these sentiments and expressed his satisfaction at the impending demolition.
Renfrewshire Council has assured residents that action is being taken to tackle the problem of tipping.
A spokesperson said: ‘Officers have been in regular contact with local representatives and residents to listen to their concerns and keep them informed of the actions we are taking to address these issues.’
‘Council officials have implemented a number of measures, including regular visits to investigate and clear fly-tipping and debris.’
‘The access road to the site will soon be closed to help stop illegal dumping and appropriate monitoring measures will soon be in place to identify and fine those responsible.’
It comes as fed-up residents of the seaside resort branded the worst in Britain say they have lost the battle against ill-behaved drinkers vomiting and brawling in the streets, and rising homelessness.
Skegness resident Rachel Barker has lived in a Lincolnshire seaside town all her life, but says most of her older friends have moved away because of the town’s boozy reputation.