Harrow Labour has vowed to do all it can to punish those caught dumping rubbish, after it was accused of inaction by opposition councillors.

The pledge came after Cllr Norman Stevenson, who represents Harrow Conservatives in Pinner, highlighted a serious case of fly-tipping in Rayners Lane.

Notwithstanding the fact that it appeared to be on private land, he argued that it was representative of Labour’s inability to address the issue in the borough.

He said: “It’s endemic in lots of places in Harrow; it’s a real problem.

“Residents have been asking their councillors and MPs for years to do something about it, but nothing seems to happen.

“This is an issue that affects all of us, so we need more community engagement. Councillors need to take more of an interest; they can’t just shy away from it.”

Cllr Stevenson added that more needs to be done in terms of education and enforcement when it comes to fly-tipping.

He suggested that more CCTV could be installed to act as a deterrent or to ensure that those dumping rubbish face justice.

“Fly-tipping, in all instances, is illegal,” he explained. “We need more enforcement and we need to be taking action.

“Something has to change. In some areas it seems as if it’s being brushed off as insurmountable, but we can’t give up.

“Someone needs to take responsibility, show some leadership and engage with residents.”

Harrow’s Labour Group explained that, since this case concerns a private service road, it is not something the council would normally clear.

It added that enforcement can prove difficult since the road is used by several businesses and it’s a challenge to contact them simultaneously for a cleaning effort.

Cllr Sachin Shah, leader of Harrow Council, reiterated that enforcement, resident engagement and keeping the borough clean are priorities for Labour.

He said: “Having pride in Harrow means ensuring it stays clean. A Labour Harrow council will be tough on those that make Harrow dirty.

“We will find those that fly-tip and litter and we will fine them. We have so far issued over 8,000 fines for littering, fighting against those who do not value our borough.

“As for private roads and alleyways, it is essential for the owners to keep them clean and in the best condition; otherwise we will force them to clean them up.”