Residents on Beresford Road in Dingle have spoken out about the state of a green space they say has become overgrown, used for fly-tipping, and infested with rats. The land, one of the few remaining green spaces in that part of the city, has been left to decay in recent years, according to locals who spoke to the ECHO.
Residents describe decay and fly-tipping
William Ellis, 66, who has lived opposite the land since 1964, said: "God knows what's in there. Look at the length of the weeds and the grass now. It's just been left. It's just awful." He added: "We even had little allotments in there and stuff like that. We haven't got much going for us around here, but that makes it even worse."
William Street, 78, said: "In the warm weather, it could go up in flames, like every other part of the country. We're getting people dumping three-piece suites and everything, it's like a dump. I think someone's cleared it now, but there's been a three-piece suite and everything being dumped in there. It's terrible. It's causing problems." He added: "It's an insult to the area. We're trying to bring the area up, but things like that brings the area down. It's not looking smart, it looks terrible."
Memories of a 'lovely place'
Street recalled the land's former glory: "That used to be a lovely place once upon a time, because they had the horses grazing on there. And the kids would come out of school and go there, they loved it." He noted that the nearby Park Palace Ponies riding school now uses an alternative route due to the overgrowth: "Now I stand here and watch them walk down the bottom of the street instead. I see them grazing down there, when they could have been grazing in here."
Another resident, Linda Noel, 71, remembered: "That used to be a garden for the church at one time. It was always kept mowed lovely with little flowers growing. But the people that looked after it have passed on, and it's just gone to pot."
Rat infestation concerns
Joe, who lives on the road with his six children, said: "It's a waste of space. They should have something there for the kids, like a park. We've had rats in the back where the kids' toys are, the trampoline, and in the house. And then there's been a rat running up the street, and then there was one killed by a vehicle. There's rats no matter what time of day it is, I've seen them in the morning."
Nemo, from nearby Stonegate Drive, added: "I see them running along the street into there [the green space]. And when I walk my dog, I can hear them all scurrying."
Council response and future plans
The ECHO has previously reported that the Florrie Community Land Trust is progressing through the council's community asset land transfer process, which would bring the land into the ownership of The Florrie.
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: "The land by Beresford Road is not currently in use and is fenced off to prevent unauthorised access. We have inspected the area in relation to reports of fly-tipping and to assess any potential risks to nearby residents. While vegetation does not present a fire risk, we would remind people not to enter the site and to dispose of items responsibly. Items such as discarded cigarettes can increase the risk of fires if left in overgrown areas."
The spokesperson added: "There is no excuse for fly-tipping anywhere in the city. If people have excess rubbish or items that don’t fit in household bins, these should be disposed of responsibly, not left on streets or open land. Fly-tipping can have a negative impact on local communities and may attract rats and other pests. We regularly carry out pest control measures across the city and encourage residents to report any issues so they can be assessed and addressed."
"We appreciate residents raising concerns and will always investigate potential environmental issues when they are brought to our attention. Environmental concerns, including reports of pests, can be submitted via the council website."
