Trash piles up anger over rats

Traders and residents in Ryefield Crescent, Northwood Hills, have had ongoing problems with the vermin, but now it seems the problem has spread to the other side of Joel Street.

The disused public toilets opposite the station have been used as a dumping ground since the beginning of last year, and the rubbish has now become infested with rats.

Neville Brooks, 88, of Highland Road, said: "The council has allowed dumping to develop there and this has been going on since last January.

"From time to time, as a result of my efforts and efforts of others, the rubbish is cleared, but it's not cleared on a regular basis and it's a real effort to get it cleared at all.

"If I, as a householder, was to put my rubbish on the pavement I would be fined. Why have the council allowed this rubbish dump to start and why is it allowed to continue?

"The place is running with rats and in the summer the maggots will be all over the place."

Hazel Garnett-Peacham, 93, of Fairfield Court, Windsor Close, uses the alley next to the pile of rubbish to get to the shops and station, and continues to complain about it to Hillingdon Council.

She said: "The rubbish breeds rats and it's an absolute mess. It gets cleared up periodically and then grows and grows."

Northwood Hills councillor, David Bishop, said: "The toilets were closed over 10 years ago to save the council money, and there was no consultation.

"I contacted Transport for London (TfL) last year because residents were complaining to me as they had no toilets, and I am pressing them to open new public toilets or get these demolished.

"The rubbish keeps accumulating, but the rat infestation is the problem. There's food on the ground and they are breeding in the toilets. It needs a good steam clean to get all the food off the ground. It smells pretty unpleasant."

Kathy Sparks, deputy director of environment and consumer protection, said: "Hillingdon Council is aware of rubbish being left on the site of the disused public toilet.

"The council has contacted TfL who own the land to clear this space, and is in discussions to replace this building.

"Any plans will be subject to agreement from TfL and planning permission.

"We are aware that there is a need for a public toilet in this area and the council is committed to ensuring provisions such as this are available in all areas of the borough."