Govanhill neighbours are in dispute with the council over fly tipping and overflowing bins described in their back court area which has been labelled 'madness' by one resident.
Citizens of the area have been in an open dispute with the council about waste management in the courtyard of Kingarth Lane, between Bowman Street and Calder Street just off of Victoria Road, which has led to the council charging them for the clean-up.
The monumental pile up has been cleaned up several times by council contractors. However, residents who look onto the courtyard and use it for their waste are not convinced the area will stay clean and clear due to this happening multiple times over the past few years.
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Fraser, 27, has lived in the area since June of last year and said it's a 'depressing sight to look out to'.
Speaking to Glasgow Live, he said: "It is depressing that in Scotland’s largest city that this is even possible and that this can happen.
“It is distressing. Govanhill is the most ethnically diverse area of the country and the fact that we are having to put up with this, with the council blaming us, is insulting.
“I love Govanhill, I love Govanhill as an area and as a community it is just so depressing that just round the corner something like this can exist.”
Fraser claims that it is the council’s problem for not sorting the issue. He further claims that the rest of the residents are not being provided with the appropriate facilities to dispose of their waste which has led to bins overflowing. The area is also notorious for fly tippers.
However, the council allege it is the responsibility of the residents and claim they have provided ample bin space. There are further worries by the council over health and safety of workers collecting rubbish in the area and if they did provide larger waste disposable containers their lorries would not be able to fit in the courtyard.
Glasgow City Council acknowledge that fly tipping in the area is a problem and have cleaned up the mess previously but residents do believe without proper measures this will happen again.
The pile up of rubbish has led to residents being charged money by the council, £34.70 each for the clean-up of the area but people in the flats are not happy as they believe it is the council's responsibility.
Residents who look onto the courtyard did put up a gate to prevent fly tipping in the enclosure, due to the lane being privately owned and also a public through way it was requested by the council to take it down with the gate poles still in place.
This has led to residents to apply with an application to install another gate in which they believe would prevent fly tipping.
Fraser, works from home as a digital marketer and has also talked about the effects on mental and physical health of himself and people who live close to the area.
He added: “Just generally being exposed to those sights everyday it can make you feel dirty and quite sad, it’s not just from a mental health view but also damaging to your physical well-being.”
Councillors have waded into the dispute online. On Twitter, Councillor, Ruairi Kelly, said: “This decision is going to the committee and I hope and expect councillors to overturn this decision so that sense can prevail and a gate be installed.”
A spokesman for the council said: “The maintenance of private property, such as back courts and lanes, is ultimately a matter for residents, owners and factors.
“Environmental improvement notices were served on 100 properties to deal with the condition of private property at this location.
“A contractor has been in the lane clearing up the accumulation of fly-tipping, which was blocking access for our refuse vehicle, and residents will be charged for this clear-up .
“Our cleansing team was able to gain access to backcourts at the start of this week and removed the build-up of excess waste that hadn’t been put in bins.
“An application to install gates at the entrances to Kingarth Lane is now subject to an appeal and it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment further on this matter at this time.”
Glasgow City Councillors are due to make a decision on the gate soon.
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