Residents near Harling Court in Battersea have expressed frustration over Wandsworth Council's failure to effectively address a fly-tipping hotspot that has persisted since 2021. People living in the area report that individuals not residing at the apartment block repeatedly dump waste, causing bins to overflow and creating unsanitary conditions that attract vermin.
Ongoing Issues and Health Hazards
The unauthorized use of the bin site has led to waste piling up on the street, which residents describe as a health hazard, especially on a route frequented by children and families heading to the nearby Latchmere Leisure Centre. One resident told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the bins are "constantly overfilled" and that foxes spread the rubbish around. He said: "The place has become a hotspot for fly-tipping. Every day of the week you will find anything dumped in there... It’s really unbearable."
Council Responses and Resident Concerns
Residents have struggled to get responses from Wandsworth Council over the years. They have urged the council to install CCTV, enforce fines, and restrict bin access to Harling Court residents only. However, the council added extra bins earlier this month, which residents warned would encourage more dumping. Another resident noted: "The more bins there are, the more people who just come and use them... The smell obviously the last few weeks was horrible, especially with the heat."
Council's Planned Actions
A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: "We have heard residents’ concerns and recognise that there have been recurring issues with waste being left around the bin site at Harling Court. In response, we have increased waste and recycling capacity, installed new bin enclosures and improved signage. We will also be introducing deployable CCTV to help deter and identify those responsible for the misuse of the site." The council also plans to write to neighboring properties asking them not to use the Harling Court bin facilities.
