![\"Piles](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Example-of-rubbish-in-alleyway-in-south-Sefton.jpg\")
Piles of rubbish dumped in an alleyway in south Sefton(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\nCouncil has cleared more than 260 tonnes of waste from publicly managed streets and alleys since JulyPiles of rubbish dumped in an alleyway in south Sefton(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n
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 \u2018unadopted\u2019 alleyways around south Sefton which have become targets for fly tippers.<\/p>\n
Cllr Neil Doolin believes unadopted alleyways are a big issue<\/a> in south Sefton<\/a>, and has called on the council to take ownership of the problems. However, the responsibility for maintenance of \u2018unadopted\u2019 alleys falls on the property owners, often leaving these spaces overrun with rubbish.<\/p>\n At a council<\/a> meeting on November 13, Cllr Doolin submitted a supplementary question: \u201c[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. [\u2026Can] I ask Cllr Harvey whether he would back the adoption of back alleys by Sefton Council.\u201d<\/p>\n Cabinet member for Street Scene and Cleansing, Cllr Peter Harvey responded: \u201cWhether they\u2019re adopted i.e. the legal responsibility of the council or unadopted, they do pose challenges, there\u2019s no doubt about that.\u201d Adding: \u201cAlleys pose a massive issue for us whether they\u2019re adopted or not, but believe me, we are up to the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a> (FPN) fines. The local authority is proposing to raise the maximum penalty for fly-tipping from \u00a3400 to \u00a31,000 and doubling the maximum penalty for littering from \u00a375 to \u00a3150. Maximum penalties for household waste duty of care breaches would rise from \u00a3200 to \u00a3500.<\/p>\n However, Cllr Doolin remained unsatisfied with Cllr Harvey\u2019s response and took to social media this morning (December 2) and posted: \u201cAt 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<\/a> and across South Sefton.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked how many unadopted rear entries exist locally? Will the council acknowledge the problems \u2014 fly-tipping, poor maintenance, safety risks? Are there any plans to formally adopt these spaces?<\/p>\n \u201cLabour\u2019s response: there are 156 unadopted rear alleyways in South Sefton, 21 in Waterloo alone. The council admits the issues but says it\u2019s not legally responsible for maintaining these entries.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no plans to adopt them, though some discretionary support is \u201cbeing considered.\u201d This is unfair. Residents are left to manage these spaces themselves\u2014often without support, facing fly-tipping and vermin, unsafe access for older people and families.\u201d<\/p>\n Adding: \u201cWe need clear commitments, targeted investment, a plan to make these spaces safe and usable for all. I\u2019ll keep pushing this issue, because no one should be left to deal with unsafe, neglected alleyways alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked for further details, Cllr Doolin told the Liverpool ECHO<\/a>: \u201cUnadopted rear entries are a daily frustration and a safety risk for many residents in Waterloo and across South Sefton. The council\u2019s refusal to adopt these spaces, despite acknowledging the problems, is deeply unfair.<\/p>\n \u201cResidents are left to manage fly tipping, blocked access, and poor maintenance alone, often in older areas where mobility and fire safety are real concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n Following up on the points raised by Cllr Doolin, Cllr Peter Harvey told the ECHO<\/a>: \u201cSefton Council is committed to clearing waste and tackling the issue of fly-tipping to preserve a cleaner, greener Borough.<\/p>\n![\"Rubbish](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1764718099_682_0_Example-of-rubbish-in-alleyway-in-south-Sefton.jpg\")
Rubbish dumped in an alleyway in south Sefton(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n