What a mess Frustrating battle to get dumped windows cleared

When Alex Seabrook found a pile of dumped doors and windows alongside a footpath, he reported it to Bristol City Council. But the process of getting it cleared was far more complicated than expected...

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At least once a week I run along the Chocolate Path next to the New Cut of the River Avon, with mostly beautiful views. But a few months ago a huge pile of doors and windows appeared, around the corner of one of the giant bonded warehouses, blighting the otherwise idyllic route.

In April I took a photo of the ugly pile for an article on fly-tipping, and it was probably there for a few weeks before that. I didn’t report it to Bristol City Council straight away as I either cynically thought nothing would happen or optimistically hoped somebody else would sort it out instead.

Then out of interest, as a test I sent a report in July to see what would happen next. The result was confusing and disappointing, leaving me £14 out of pocket and with shards of glass all over the floor. The windows and doors were eventually removed - but only after a bit of sleuthing.

You can report problems in your local area, such as fly-tipping or dodgy potholes, through a website called Fix My Street. Whether or not anything happens afterwards is another matter. Two people reported the fly-tipping next to the Chocolate Path in April and June, via the site.

The first report said: “Council land has inappropriate waste storage and fly-tipping that has not been removed for some months and is recurring because the site is insecure. It’s a threat to the river, wildlife and amenity.”

The second report added: “This is a well used walking and cycling path. There is dumped double glazing with plenty of smashed glass, it is a genuine hazard to the community and wildlife. Please remove it ASAP”