A MASSIVE broken fridge has been left partially blocking a city pavement near homes already blighted by fly-tipping and hit by a dangerous fire which raged out of control.
A broken drinks fridge has been left in Tolladine, Worcester, partially blocking a footpath, as an activist raises concern about the state of the area.
However, campaigner Edward Kimberley says often the wrong people 'cop the blame' for the mess just because they may be on benefits and others need to 'clean up their act'.
Rubbish in the area has once again been highlighted after the huge fridge was dumped in an area once dubbed the 'Tolladine tip' near the Dee Way fire site.
We reported how flames engulfed trees over the summer and a van was saved from being destroyed by two residents who pushed it out of the path of the fire.
The gardens are cleaner than they were in January when old mattresses and boxes were pictured near the street.
The fridge doors are broken and there are sharp pieces of metal and other rubbish inside.
Rubbish dumped in a nearby garden includes a child's car seat, while there are still the charred remains of a hedgerow destroyed by a fire in June. Other sights nearby include a door, pallets blocking the pavement and a shopping trolley full of bricks.
A woman who worked at the shop opposite - Dee Way Stores - said the fridge would be moved by 2pm on Friday.
RECOMMENDED READING: Heroes use brick to save van from fire in Dee Way, Tolladine
RECOMMENDED READING: Tolladine tip - mouldy mattresses, raw meat and bones
Mr Kimberley, an activist and campaigner, said: "It's concerning so little of the fire damage has been repaired. If you get stuff like that being left on the road it's clearly not residential waste, it's commercial. It is an environmental hazard and a safety hazard.
"You don't want something with those type of sharp edges where children or pedestrians are likely to be."
He added: "What upsets me the most is that it's always been the wrong people who end up copping the blame; whether that's the tenant of an HMO being blamed for overflowing bins, or people on benefits being blamed for a commercial fridge that's dumped on the side of the road.
"Local businesses and local landlords have a responsibility to clean up their act. I am very happy to say that the Labour Group at Worcester City Council is doing its part with its introduction of a free bulky waste collection service for the least-well-off. But we need everybody to pull together to help us get on top of this rubbish problem."
One dad, who did not wish to named, said of Dee Way: "It looks like a refugee camp. Nothing has been cleaned after the fire."
We reported in June how Robert Gabriel Ungureanu and Andrei Bulete worked together to stop the fire from reaching homes and a van when the blaze got out of control in Dee Way in Tolladine, Worcester on Thursday, June 8
The pair from Avon Road shifted the Mercedes out of the remorseless path of fire, smashing the window with a brick and pushing the van to safety.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel