Bootle woman trapped at home by fly-tipping issues

A woman from Bootle, Collette Etherington, says she feels like a "prisoner" in her own home because of rubbish blocking her way out. She has faced this problem for almost four years, which has made her home life a "living nightmare." The area around Sea View Road shows clear signs of excessive fly-tipping. Piles of rubbish, dirty mattresses, and heavy waste are frequently found in the streets and alleyways. Local residents express frustration about the ongoing issue. Charity Olaye, a local, described the situation as "disgusting" and said they are proud of their neighborhood but are tired of the rubbish problem. In a survey of residents, many reported issues with rubbish blocking access to their homes. One resident, Kayleigh Nerisha, mentioned she had to padlock her back gate because it is constantly blocked by waste. Another resident, Marcus Watson, shared concerns about the impact of the rubbish on people's well-being, especially when walking dogs. Collette Etherington, who has severe mobility issues, finds it difficult to leave her apartment because of the rubbish in the alleyway. She loves her home but is embarrassed by the state of her surroundings. Over the past three and a half years, she has reported the issue to the council and her housing provider, but there has been little action. In response to the fly-tipping problem, Sefton Council recently issued a £400 fine for a fly-tipping incident. Cllr Peter Harvey stated that fly-tipping is unacceptable and puts a strain on council resources. He mentioned that further fines are coming for more offenders. One Vision Housing, which manages Collette's property, said they are working to improve the local environment. They recently removed fly-tipped waste around Grogan Square and are implementing a new strategy to tackle the issue.