Waste dump killed pets (From Stroud News and Journal)

Waste dump killed pets

A YOUNG Stroud couple have blamed a rubbish dump underneath their kitchen window for the deaths of their two pets.

Kelly Mee, 21, and her boyfriend Alan Hogg, 29, of Nursery Close said they have to live with a rubbish dump just six feet away from their Sanctuary Housing Association flat and have to wade through used nappies and cigarette ends and rotting food just to get to their home.

They say they cannot open their windows because of the stench and now their two pets have died and they are blaming the refuse bunker outside their home for spreading disease.

Although the bunker is emptied every Thursday morning Ms Mee said it is usually overflowing again by the afternoon. "We walk out of the front door and you name it, it's there.

"The dirty nappies are the worst but people just fly-tip anything. "My rabbit, Biscuit, got fly-strike, a condition where maggots get into the skin and hatch out. It was because of the flies on the rubbish - he was only a year old. "My guinea pig, Ratty, picked up a virus.

"We walk past the rubbish every day and some of the filth may have got dragged in, we think he may have eaten it.

"It is disgusting. We have complained loads of times but Sanctuary Housing has done nothing about it. Sometimes the rubbish is piled so high in front of our kitchen window we can't see next door's car. "Sanctuary has told us to phone the council."

Sanctuary Housing spokeswoman Tracy Goodwin said: "The positioning of the bin area was part of the original planning decision prior to the estate being developed in 1991 and it is the responsibility of Stroud District Council to clear it weekly.

"We have recently been made aware of the difficulties that the positioning of the bin area has subsequently caused some residents and we are currently looking at options to overcome the issue.

"We will of course be consulting with all the residents before any decision is taken. "In addition it is our intention to introduce a regular estate litter pick and rubbish removal service from July provided the proposal has the residents support. "

Stroud District Council spokesman Dave Marshall said Ebley Mill had investigated a fly-tipping complaint in September last year but had heard nothing since.

"We have not been made aware of any problem since," he said. "We are going to go up there and take a look to see what can be done."