Chelsea Bernard saw red and confronted a man on Runcorn RoadNews
birminghammail.co.uk
05:35, 12 Apr 2025
A mum who confronted a resident who was allegedly fly-tipping has spoken of her battle to keep her road clean.
Chelsea Bernard, 34, was filmed demanding a man remove waste which she accused him of dumping on Runcorn Road in Balsall Heath.
The residential street hit the headlines on Wednesday (April 9) after videos emerged showing several mounds of black bin bags and other festering waste left at junctions along the road amid the bin strike.
Read More: Tempers flare as Birmingham residents with ‘rats in homes’ clear road blocked by rubbish
But as residents worked hard to move the piles out of their groves so council trucks could access them, Ms Bernard snapped when she spotted a man adding big items.
The pile ended up obstructing the road and she threatened to call the police if he did not take the items back.
Ms Bernard, who has lived in the area all her life, said she conducts litter picks along her grove and wants others to keep the area clean.
She added: “I’m a true Brummie born and bred in Balsall Heath.
“I want others to come and help as a community to keep out community clean, I’ve got a positive attitude.”
The 34-year-old said: “I saw him dumping rubbish like wood on top of the pile that was already there and got upset.
“I hadn’t seen anyone do it and it made me feel disgusted and sad inside.
“I’m the community voice and we are frustrated. It’s been horrendous for months and the weather has started getting warmer making it worse – rats just jump out.
“It’s never been like this, it’s always been respected.
Residents clearing up fly-tipped rubbish for the tipper truck on Runcorn Road in Balsall Heath
“We never piled rubbish, the pavements were clean, no broken glass anywhere, no vapes, no rubbish, people respected the area because we like to be clean.
“Some of the residents were cleaning today, it makes everyone sad and emotional.
“I do litter picks weekly, I walk up and down picking up the rubbish.
“Me and my neighbour Halima sweep the avenue and maintain it. We have children and want to make sure it’s tidy for them.”
Fly-tipping left for the council pick up trucks on Runcorn Road
Mum-of-four Parveen Nahar, 45, was one of those armed with a broom clearing the road with her neighbours.
She said: “We are cleaning out Myrtle Avenue because the bin men said if we get it on the road, they can take it.
“We are not doing it, it’s frustrating because no one takes responsibility for this land.
“We’ve not had a collection for eight weeks and it’s been building up over time.
“The fly-tipping is one thing but the bin strike has made it worse.”