Paisley street 'worst in UK' for fly-tipping as grim photos show mountains of rubbish infested with rats

Full of dumped carpets, beds and sofas - this could be Britain's most fly-tipped street.

The road in Paisley is consistently littered with rubbish and infested with rats. Tommy Eggerty, who lived there for 19 years before moving around the corner, said the council was failing to sort the mess.

"The council is taking nothing to do with it. It's been going on for ages, they have done nothing. They need to get their finger out, if it was happening where they stayed, they wouldn't put up with it. It's ridiculous because it's going to be full of rats, that's for certain."

Tannahill Road, in the Ferguslie Park area, is due to be demolished next month but nearby residents are fed up of the mounting piles of waste. 75-year-old Tommy thinks people have been coming from "all over" to dump their "all sorts" on the street.

He said: "Just catch some of them. I think they should have a warden here, even during the day because they're tipping during the day not just at night."

He revealed the bus was unable to drive its usual route last week as litter was "dumped in the middle of the road, and carpets were all over the place".

The deserted housing estate will begin to be demolished next month after the council approved a £630,000 contract last Thursday. Demolition firm Caskie will bulldoze 51 blocks of empty council houses in a project that is expected to last a year.

However, one private homeowner remains and the council revealed negotiations to voluntarily acquire the property are ongoing.

Tommy added: "It could turn out a nice place. I don't know if they're going to build on it, I don't know what their aim is."

The demolition will encompass vacant properties in Ferguslie Park Avenue, Drums Avenue, Tannahill Road and Tannahill Terrace in a move that has sparked relief within the community.

Terry McTernan, chair of Ferguslie Community Council, said: "We're delighted that this has eventually gone through. As I've said before, if it was up to us, we would have it demolished tomorrow but we appreciate there are processes that need to be followed.

"I do need to compliment the council on their increased and regular communication with us over recent months, particularly in regards to fly-tipping. The fly-tipping, it needs to be said though, is getting worse again. The buses couldn't even get through recently because of the fly-tipping.

"I understand there are efforts being made to try and reroute the bus route for obvious reasons anyway, but until that's done the bus still needs to get through. We're advised they should be on-site in mid-July commencing demolition, so we really look forward to that.

"It's the final spot on Ferguslie's face, if you like, being removed. The community council is looking forward to the continued engagement with the council about the future use of that land for community purposes."

Work is expected to begin on July 15 however final confirmation of this will be set out in the council's letter of acceptance to the contractor, Caskie. The separate process of disconnecting electric and gas supplies is already under way in the estate ahead of the demolition.

The derelict housing estate has also been a magnet for anti-social behaviour, with the local authority recently confirming that there had been 16 fires in the area as of late.

Councillor Graeme Clark, Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said at a recent board meeting: "I'm really pleased to see this contract given the number of fires, which have been quite serious fires, in that location and the amount of fly-tipping. I don't know if you've seen recently within a day the amount of fly-tipping which has occurred in this area, so I'm really pleased to see this contract - I think it's well overdue - is now taking place."

Councillor John Shaw, board convener and SNP representative for Renfrew North and Braehead, added: "I'm sure we're all pleased to see it finally coming to fruition."

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of local concerns about fly tipping at the Tannahill Regeneration area.

"Officers have been in regular contact with local representatives and residents to listen to their concerns and keep them updated on the actions we are taking to address these issues.

"Council officers have implemented a number of measures to address the issues, including regular visits to investigate and clear fly tipping and debris. The access road to the site will soon be closed off to help stop illegal dumping and suitable surveillance measures will shortly be in place to help identify and fine those responsible.

"We are also collaborating with our partners in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland to consider any additional measures which may be required. Officers check the properties within this area regularly and this will continue until the area is handed over to the appointed demolition contractor in the coming weeks."

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