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Bob, some residents put rubbish on the pavements, they are not collected yet sit there sometimes for 2 weeks!A broken bed base, futon thing was dumped in our road, lay there for a week, (even though I reported it 7 days before) and then I tripped over a wire which protruded from the base.My left knee was bleeding badly, right knee bruised, stomach bruised, hands cut, big toe stubbed. Would you believe that the Contractors say it is not their fault? That thing lay there for a total of 10 or 11 days!I feel I have been totally let down by the Council and by their Contractors. Why is it no-one will take responsibilityfor neglecting their duty?Their excuse was because it was near a skip they couldn't take it as they might be accused of stealing! Come off it, the thing was broken in two, all they had to do was ring the bell where the people hired the skip, or report back to Streetwatchers, not leave the damn thing in the street for someone to fall over it!Meanwhile my left knee is still causing problems, I can't kneel down and going upstairs I have to take care not to twist it again.They will not do anything about it and said I must see a Solicitor. I pointed out that this would cost them more but that is the way they want to hand it!So this is leaving me with no alternative but to seek legal advice on a NO WIN NO FEE basis. The Solicitor will have to decide who is responsibe.The leader of the Council did not reply to my letter.So much for doing my duty as a Streetwatcher! No-one cares!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4277d

I absolutely agree with you Bob, things have most definately gone on a downward spiral over the past 10 years.Once upon a time our street was a 'Showcase' Street' looking at it now no-one would believe it! We have beer cans littering the gutter, we know where they come from, we know who is responsible, this was reported but nothing happened.As I said before the place looks worse after the bins have been emptied, what falls on the street remains there. Some people should take part of the blame for not securing their rubbish bags of course.Then we have neighbours who continue to dump cardboard boxes and rubbish bags on the pavement, the same people do this over and over. When these items are not collected they remain on the pavement for a couple of weeks.The response time is a joke now when something is reported. No-one seems to care, as Street Watchers we can only do so much and it can be very frustrating at times to see the state of our streets.I believe the number of Environment Officers has been greatly reduced too, everything has been dumbed down. I just hope we don't end up like Brent Council who told me they stopped having Street Watchers due to lack of funds, when I contacted them on behalf of a friend who had a dumping ground facing his property, but we do this on a voluntary basis. The last time I went to Brent it was even worse than Ealing for street cleanliness.Under the previous administration the garden rubbish collection was FREE, now residents have to pay so I guess this means that yet more stuff is dumped in the streets.I can't see the situation changing any time soon sadly.I just had a reply from the leader of the Council so perhaps he will investigate my complaint.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4275d