Plot holders raise safety fears over uncleared fly-tipping at Enfield allotments

Plot holders at a Enfield allotment site say they have been left frustrated and fearful after fly-tipping at the entrance was left uncleared for months. According to the resident who raised the alarm, the waste has been reported to Enfield Council three separate times since the start of the year.

The first formal report was submitted in January, followed by a second complaint in April. Last week the resident sent the council a full set of photographs documenting the scale of the problem, but says no clearance work has been carried out and no proper response has been received.

The pile-up at the main entrance and pathway is said to include several mattresses, broken furniture and general rubbish. In places it is so extensive that vehicles cannot get through, making it difficult for plot holders to carry tools, compost or produce to and from their plots.

Plot holders say conditions have worsened the longer the waste has sat untouched. They claim the entrance has become a gathering spot for drug users, with paraphernalia left behind, and that some regulars now feel unsafe visiting alone, particularly later in the day.

“This is more than just an eyesore,” said the resident who raised the concerns. “We pay our rents, we keep our own plots neat, and we come here to enjoy growing food in peace. Instead, we face a blocked path, health risks, and the feeling that our safety doesn’t matter.”

There are also concerns about emergency access, with residents pointing out that a blocked entrance could leave no clear route for emergency services. The group warns that the rotting waste and metal springs pose a risk of cuts and falls, and that the rubbish is attracting rats and other pests.

The allotment community is now calling for the waste to be cleared immediately, along with an explanation of why the earlier reports went unactioned. They also want measures to prevent further dumping and improvements to lighting and security at the site.

“Church Side Allotments is a valued green space for local people,” the resident added. “We just want it back to being clean, accessible, and safe, as it should be.”

Fly-tipping is a criminal offence under UK law, and councils are responsible for clearing illegally dumped waste from land in their control.

Enfield Council has been approached for comment.