PILES of six-month old rubbish has become a nuisance and is bringing down the appearance of one neighbourhood, residents have claimed.

David Baker, of Curtis Street, town centre, last night said he was ‘sick and tired’ of looking at mounds of rubbish fly-tipped behind his home and wants Swindon Council to Get It Sorted.

He said the black bags which were first placed in Curtis Street, by the Cambria Court flats, at Christmas have become a dangerous eyesore attracting foxes and cats and creating an unsightly mess in an otherwise “lovely neighbourhood”.

And although the council has said an investigation into the origins of the rubbish is under way, Mr Baker says it’s taking too long.

Mr Baker said: “Perhaps it’s a bit cynical of me but if this rubbish was in Broome Manor Lane, I doubt it would have taken six months for the council to take notice of it.

“About two months ago I was approached by members of the council’s environment team asking me to sign a waiver to clean off some graffiti on my garage, so I signed it.

“But nothing has ever been done on that either.

“It would seem that the council keeps saying they want to clean up the neighbourhood while leaving the rubbish in plain view.

“The pile is very annoying to look at, it should not have been dumped because people know the rules, but that doesn’t mean it should just be left there for months on end.”

He added that although he witnessed members of Swindon Commercial Services, the council’s environmental team and the flat’s management company meeting beside the rubbish six weeks ago, nothing had been done since.

The 61-year-old said: “When you drive by the pile you have to watch out for broken glass and I walk my dog back there and we just have to be so careful.

“I have lived here 25 years so I think it’s a real pity, because without that pile this neighbourhood would be quite nice.”

A Swindon Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the problem and we have been talking to the landlord of the flats to try and sort it out.

“It’s also the subject of an ongoing investigation by our enforcement team.”