Residents on Anderson Street in Liverpool have told the ECHO they are scared to go out at night because of years of flytipping, broken street lights, and an empty wasteland at the top of the road. The street, off Great Homer Street, is a residential road with several cul-de-sacs on the left and Notre Dame Catholic College on the right. It is in Everton but has been part of the Vauxhall ward since 2023, and is often used as a cut-through by football fans heading to Netherfield Road North and on to Anfield.
Rubbish piles and broken lights
Over the past few years, those using the route have noticed increasing amounts of rubbish piled up next to a substation by Zante Close, along with broken streetlights. There is also litter in an empty wasteland at the top of the street, which Land Registry records show is owned by Liverpool City Council. The council's planning portal indicates the Corinth Tower high-rise once stood there; the tower block was demolished in 2005, and no recent planning applications for the site appear to have been submitted.
Kevin Robinson-Hale, a Liberal Democrat campaigner who lives in Everton, accused the council of failing to act over the flytipping. He said no fines had been issued for flytipping in the Everton West and Vauxhall wards over the last year. After the ECHO contacted Liverpool City Council about the issues on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson said they were not aware of any complaints over the land next to the substation, which is not council-owned, but said it would be cleared up.
Residents speak out
When the ECHO visited Anderson Street on Thursday morning, a huge pile of rubbish was found by the substation, including children's toys, planks of wood, and shopping trolleys. The wasteland was hugely overgrown, with drinks cans, crisp packets, and even underwear visible. By Friday morning, the council sent a picture showing the rubbish next to the substation had been removed, but no answer was given about plans for the council-owned empty land next to it.
Lillian Anderson, 82, who lives off Anderson Street on Thomaston Street, accused people of coming from outside the streets to dump their rubbish. She told the ECHO: "All kinds gets dumped there. Clothes, sinks, old tyres, kitchen stuff. Now there's kids' toys. Anything at all that someone doesn't need in their home, they dump it there."
She added: "It's disgraceful. The school here must think that we're all like that, and we're not. It’s someone coming in with wagons or whatever and doing it. Loads of times, we've reported it and nothing gets done at all. No one cares, to be quite honest with you."
Fear at night and calls for cameras
Speaking about the wasteland, Lillian said: "I've lived here for 20-odd years, and it’s been like that all the time. There used to be a big tower block there. (It was) pulled down and now it's just a rubbish tip." She called for cameras to be installed on the street to catch those responsible and make residents feel safer. She and others avoid going out at night, saying: "I'm terrified. I'm petrified."
Leticia Machingauta, 21, who also lives on Thomaston Street, said: "Some people just come with the trolleys from the shops and just dump them there. Sometimes when I'm driving down, especially during nighttime it's very hard to see. I think a lot of people feel unsafe. There's a lot of rubbish on the sides as well. I think one of the neighbours used to work for the council. He made a complaint, but nothing has been done."
Mum Sian Phillips, 39, who lives on Zante Close just yards from the substation and wasteland, said: "I’ve been here for five to six years. It’s become a habit. Anyone who wants to get rid of stuff dumps it there. It doesn’t feel safe. I don’t go out at night. If they could just put some cameras up, that would be lovely. It would make me and some of my neighbours a lot safer. This close is very quiet. We have no problems other than this."
Council response and action
Mr Robinson-Hale said: "Over the last 12 months the council issued zero fines for fly tipping in Everton West and and Vauxhall. This shows how the communities are being left to rot when pieces of council land like this on Anderson street become a free for all dumping ground with no consequences."
On Thursday afternoon, a Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: "Now we have been made aware of flytipping on this walkway we will arrange for it to be removed and will also have the lighting checked. If we discover evidence of who has dumped the rubbish we will investigate and take enforcement action. People can report fly tipping via our website at liverpool.gov.uk/flytipping."
On Friday morning, the spokesperson added: "The fly tipping has been cleared by our team. Two lights on the walkway are out - they will be repaired within five working days."
