MOUNTAINS of green waste abandoned by residents who cannot afford Swindon Council’s removal charge are becoming an eyesore for householders in Park North.

In March the council introduced an annual £40 green waste charge as a way of saving money, with bosses celebrating the scheme’s success in July after almost 11,000 people signed up.

But a particular spot in Lennox Drive has become a dumping ground for fly-tipped bags of summer grass cuttings and dead flower heads, which has continued to grow since the council introduced the scheme.

Carolanne Bond, who lives nearby in Stanley Honey Court and passes the mountain of rotting vegetation most days, said the greatest concern was that it would start to attract vermin.

She said: “It’s an absolute eyesore. And what we’re worried about, particularly the people who live on Lennox Drive, is that it might attract vermin.

“We have got weeds growing through the green bags and there are sblack bags there too, but I don’t know what is in them.”

The scheme has proved controversial since it was introduced, and the council needs about 16,000 people to sign up before March 2015 for it to be economically viable.

Carolanne said: “Nobody is happy about it. I have got no room for a wheelie bin but they only give you four green bags per fortnight.

“In the summer I need about four bags a week for the flowers and the cuttings from the garden, and then in the winter I’d be lucky if I fill even one.

“So you’re paying £40 a year for four bags a week where you don’t even need it for six months.

“Some people also just don’t have transport to take it to Cheney Manor to recycle it instead, so should they take their bags on the bus? But they’re not allowed on the site unless they’re in a vehicle, and they don’t let taxis on to the site, so where are they supposed to put it?

“But it’s not just happening here, it’s happening all over Swindon.”

In June the council said it would not make removing the fly-tipped green waste a priority to send a message that fly-tipping would not be tolerated.

But Coun Steve Allsopp (Lab, Walcot and Park North) said it was time the waste was removed.

He said: “I understand the council’s position but I do think it’s now time it was dealt with.

“It’s not just in Walcot and Park North – it is happening all across Swindon.”

A council spokesman said: “More than 11,000 households are now benefitting from the green waste service and we have not seen a significant increase in fly-tipping since the service was introduced in March.

“However, there are isolated incidents where some people think it is acceptable to dispose of their green waste without a thought for anyone else, creating eyesores, as in this case.

“We don’t believe it is right to reward fly-tippers who act in this way by collecting such waste, although we will clean up areas if the waste is causing a hazard.

“Now this has been brought to our attention we will move waste causing a hazard.

“We do investigate fly-tipping cases that are reported to us and those responsible will be prosecuted.”