Fly-tipped furniture has sat on the bank of River Roding for months due to uncertainty over who is responsible for clearing it.
Redbridge Council and the Environment Agency both told the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week that the other body was responsible for clearing the mess.
According to Redbridge councillor Paul Canal (Con, Bridge), the discarded mattress and other rubbish was first reported to the council in July.
In a tweet addressed to both the council and the Environment Agency on Tuesday (October 20), he wrote: “We have polluting fly tipping, a danger to animals, by the River Roding.
“Reported in July, still there. Can you please talk to each other and get it moved?”
Hi @EnvAgencySE @EnvAgency @RedbridgeLive , we have polluting fly tiping, a danger to animals, by the River Roding. Reported in July, still there. Can you please talk to each other and get it moved. Would appreciate a response, as would @SoWoSociety @ local walkers, residents pic.twitter.com/NY9Hrv5hir
— Paul Canal (@RedbridgeBlue) October 20, 2020
When contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a Redbridge Council spokesperson said it was the Environment Agency’s job.
They added: “Following a search, records indicate that land located on the Chalford Walk side of the riverbank is the Environment Agency's responsibility.”
However, responding to Cllr Canal, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Local councils investigate and clear waste from littering up to small-scale fly-tipping on public land.
“The EA responds to large scale, serious illegal dumping incidents which we term ‘illegal dumping’.”
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