Council has cleared more than 260 tonnes of waste from publicly managed streets and alleys since July
Piles of rubbish dumped in an alleyway in south Sefton(Image: LDRS)
Older people are being left alone to deal with mounds of rubbish and rats in one part of Merseyside, according to a local councillor, prompting fears for their safety. The issue relates to the amount of ‘unadopted’ alleyways around south Sefton which have become targets for fly tippers.
Cllr Neil Doolin believes unadopted alleyways are a big issue in south Sefton, and has called on the council to take ownership of the problems. However, the responsibility for maintenance of ‘unadopted’ alleys falls on the property owners, often leaving these spaces overrun with rubbish.
At a council meeting on November 13, Cllr Doolin submitted a supplementary question: “[The rubbish in unadopted alleyways] does cause a lot of hardship, especially to older residents who find it very difficult to manage those alleyways when there are large amounts of fly tipping associated with the back alleys. […Can] I ask Cllr Harvey whether he would back the adoption of back alleys by Sefton Council.”
Cabinet member for Street Scene and Cleansing, Cllr Peter Harvey responded: “Whether they’re adopted i.e. the legal responsibility of the council or unadopted, they do pose challenges, there’s no doubt about that.” Adding: “Alleys pose a massive issue for us whether they’re adopted or not, but believe me, we are up to the fight.”
Sefton Council is planning to step up its fight against fly-tipping, dog fouling and other environmental offences, by increasing the maximum for fixed penalty notice (FPN) fines. The local authority is proposing to raise the maximum penalty for fly-tipping from £400 to £1,000 and doubling the maximum penalty for littering from £75 to £150. Maximum penalties for household waste duty of care breaches would rise from £200 to £500.
However, Cllr Doolin remained unsatisfied with Cllr Harvey’s response and took to social media this morning (December 2) and posted: “At the recent full council meeting, I challenged the Labour Cabinet member for cleansing and street scene on the long-standing issues caused by unadopted rear entries, especially in Waterloo and across South Sefton.
Rubbish dumped in an alleyway in south Sefton(Image: LDRS)
“I asked how many unadopted rear entries exist locally? Will the council acknowledge the problems — fly-tipping, poor maintenance, safety risks? Are there any plans to formally adopt these spaces?
“Labour’s response: there are 156 unadopted rear alleyways in South Sefton, 21 in Waterloo alone. The council admits the issues but says it’s not legally responsible for maintaining these entries.
“There are no plans to adopt them, though some discretionary support is “being considered.” This is unfair. Residents are left to manage these spaces themselves—often without support, facing fly-tipping and vermin, unsafe access for older people and families.”
Adding: “We need clear commitments, targeted investment, a plan to make these spaces safe and usable for all. I’ll keep pushing this issue, because no one should be left to deal with unsafe, neglected alleyways alone.”
Asked for further details, Cllr Doolin told the Liverpool ECHO: “Unadopted rear entries are a daily frustration and a safety risk for many residents in Waterloo and across South Sefton. The council’s refusal to adopt these spaces, despite acknowledging the problems, is deeply unfair.
“Residents are left to manage fly tipping, blocked access, and poor maintenance alone, often in older areas where mobility and fire safety are real concerns.”
Following up on the points raised by Cllr Doolin, Cllr Peter Harvey told the ECHO: “Sefton Council is committed to clearing waste and tackling the issue of fly-tipping to preserve a cleaner, greener Borough.
“For example, our Waste Management and Street Cleansing teams worked in rear entries across Litherland and Waterloo last week, which led to over 15 tonnes of waste being cleared.
“Since July, more than 260 tonnes of waste have been cleared from rear entries across Sefton’s publicly managed streets and alleys.
“Sefton Council will always give as much guidance and support as possible when made aware of a fly-tipping incident or an environmental health concern. In reference to private alleyways, we must follow the correct legal process when considering land ownership.
“We go above and beyond our statutory duties by offering discretionary support for private alleyways as we recognise the challenges faced by residents, particularly around fly-tipping.
“Formally adopting a road or alleyway into the Council’s remit is a lengthy legal process and comes at significant public expense. With that in mind, our approach is to continue offering guidance while servicing the thousands of public roads and alleyways across Sefton.
“We remain committed to supporting residents and improving the street scene wherever possible. Anyone who wishes to report a fly-tipping incident can do so by visiting the Sefton Council website.”