Fratton residents call for action as block of flats becomes a hot spot for fly tipping
Residents’ frustration after years of fly tipping
Residents of a block of flats in Fratton are calling for action to be taken against fly tippers after it has become a hotspot for rubbish dumping.
The occupiers of 18-24 St Mary’s Road have been affected by the issue for years with the property on private land and managed by Abri. While signs have been erected this month advising not to fly tip, resident’s are calling for more to be done to solve the issue which is leaving some of them out of pocket.
The top floor of the block is inhabited by those that either own or part own the flats and are subject to service charges, with the cost of the clear up being added to it.
Harry Hathaway, 32, a videographer, has lived in the block since February 2025 and soon became aware of the fly tipping issue.
He said: “It is almost happening on a fortnightly basis with large stuff being dumped here. Its not just a bin bag or two, it is dining chairs, fridges, mattresses.
“It is an endless cycle of us having to foot the bill through our service charges. When I moved in my service charge was £40 a month which was reasonable, but just two months after moving in, it went up an additional £100 a month which was significant. There is CCTV in the block but there is not anything directly pointing at the area where it gets dumped.”
Although the fly tipping is taking place on private land, Harry has contacted Portsmouth City Council to see if anything could be done, including adding CCTV on Olinda Street, a public road with a view over the affected area. However, Harry said it was a “wasted effort”.
When new rubbish arrives, residents advise Abri but items can still remain for a week or so before being picked up, according to Harry.
“It is not nice for the city either, for the neighbours or people walking and driving by,” He said. “It is quite a nice little area with a flower bed so when you get things dumped there it’s horrible for Fratton in general.”
Jane Bond, Harry’s neighbour, has lived in the block for 12 years and it has been an issue that has got “worse and worse” over the years. Her and her husband have sent around 200 emails to Abri over the years with complaints.
She said: “It gets to a point where you don’t bother complaining anymore because you’re used to them ignoring you.”
The fly tipping has also had other consequences for the residents, with rodents becoming an issue.
Harry said: “Another problem is that it attracts rats, it is a health and safety issue. As it is in a car park, the rats have chewed through some cables in people’s cars so people don't want to park there. There are so many ways it is affecting everyone rather than it just being an eyesore.
“I would like to see people held responsible for it. Some action from Abri and the council would be a huge help.”
A new sign was put up this month stating ‘No Dumping, No Fly Tipping’ and Abri have said they are committed to finding a long-term solution.
Lauren Parrett, the regional assistant director of Abri’s south region, said: “We believe that everyone has the right to live in a safe and clean community, and we share our customers’ frustrations about fly-tipping.
“We inspect St Mary’s Road weekly and remove any waste found. We'll work with the owner of nearby trees to have them trimmed to improve visibility, which will enable us to install extra CCTV and lighting to deter offenders.
“We understand that customers are concerned about the impact these issues can have on service charges, and we're committed to finding effective long-term solutions that keep both fly-tipping and associated costs to a minimum. We encourage customers to report fly-tipping to us as soon as possible to help us gather evidence, arrange removal and support action against those responsible."
Councillor Stuart Brown, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "Portsmouth City Council takes fly tipping extremely seriously and will always investigate reports where evidence suggests offences have been committed. In this case, the waste has been reported on privately owned land meaning responsibility for the removal of the waste rests with the landowner.
"We will continue to work with landowners, residents, and partner organisations where appropriate to tackle environmental crime and improve the local environment.
"Where evidence is available, we will pursue robust enforcement action in line with our Fly Tipping Enforcement Policy, including the use of Fixed Penalty Notices and prosecution through the courts for serious or repeat offences".