Harrow Council will review its fly-tipping strategy as it struggles to deal with rubbish dumped on private and orphaned land.

Cllr Varsha Parmar, responsible for the environment at the council, admitted that the current approach “is not working”.

She was challenged at a cabinet meeting yesterday (April 11) by Cllr Pritesh Patel, who asked what the council’s plans are to address the problem.

He pointed out that there are numerous instances across the borough where large fly-tips repeatedly build up, which can attract vermin.

“We need to really look into this issue and start holding landlords to account,” he said.

“We can’t just live with this and allow it to fester, with no-one taking responsibility.”

Cllr Parmar agreed that there needs to be a new approach when it comes to private land and orphaned land – where there is no ownership record and it is often shared between properties – and noted that an internal review has taken place.

“We know we need to do something differently – at the moment it is not working,” she said.

“Fly-tipping is a universal thing. We do clear it as we are notified but, as soon as we do, it comes back.”

She added that, ultimately, it is the responsibility of those who own the land and that, where possible, the council takes enforcement action.

She explained that the council would share its findings with councillors once the review has been completed.