Worton Estate streets 'a disgrace'

Sep 5 2008 By Robert Cumber

Worton Estate

An Isleworth mum has called for a crackdown on illegal flytipping after her son slashed his hand on dumped glass.

Nine-year-old Andrew Ford cut his hand on the shards of a fish tank and doctors say the wound will take two months to heal fully.

His mum, Christine Ford, of Octavia Road, Isleworth, said: "The streets round here are a disgrace and something needs to be done. Flytippers are dumping a huge amount of dangerous waste and it's only a matter of time before a child is seriously injured playing on the estate."

Ms Ford, 50, claims a clean-up scheme started by youngsters on the estate has made little difference, despite winning an award earlier this summer.

The sporty youngster couldn't use his hand for a week after the accident on August 19 and has been told it will be at least another six weeks before he can return to tae kwon do lessons.

When Ms Ford returned to the scene of the accident three days later, she was horrified to discover the broken glass had still not been cleared.

"I couldn't believe it had been there all that time waiting for somebody else to injure themselves," she said. "I grew up here, on Rushkin Road, and the streets were never as bad as this."

Ms Ford's comments come just weeks after councillors criticised Hounslow Homes, which manages the estate on behalf of Hounslow Council, for failing to support the clean-up project.

A spokeswoman for Hounslow Homes said: "Hounslow Homes employs three bulk lorries to try to keep on top of fly-tipping but we need residents to be our eyes and ears and report offenders.

"Anyone found to be dumping this waste will be prosecuted. However, we only have the responsibility of patrolling and maintaining areas funded from the housing revenue account, (tenants rents) and not public land.

"We are aware of the case of the broken glass and as soon as we were notified we cleared the area."

Residents with any information on fly-tippers are asked to call Hounslow Homes on 0800 085 6575. If residents have bulk items to dispose of, they should contact Tidy Town bulk waste collection, which can remove these items for a small charge. For more information contact Tidy Town on 020 8814 2225. ..SUPL: