I don’t usually travel as far away as Walsall northwest of Birmingham, but I had my reasons in this case. This was because I wanted to visit a street in Short Heath where there was a particularly interesting collection. Beyond that I thought I had seen everything until I visited Walsall. But that did not prove to be the case in terms of dump sites as I shall explain.
More Gentle Times in the Valley of the Walsh
My Wikipedia tells me the town name derives from ‘Walh Halth’ meaning ‘Valley of the Welsh’. They say this refers to the first Celtic Britons who settled there. It was a small market town by the 13th century. However, there’s no record of the peculiarly British habit of dumping household waste as seems quite fashionable now.
Keeping the Walsall Countryside Tidy (H Somerfield BY Public Domain)
I was also interested to learn more about medieval history long buried beneath housing and industrial estates. But instead, I learned they parked Henry VIII’s illegitimate son Henry Fitzroy there in 1525. Henry sired the boy with his mistress Bessie Blount, who was by all accounts a good looker.
I Thought Again When I Visited Walsall Museum
Factories, sweat houses, overpopulation and all that goes with it arrived in Walsall with the Industrial Revolution. I don’t have absolute proof of that. Although I can imagine cottage industries fly tipping scrap from saddles, chains, buckles and plated ware they made. There was also a limestone quarry nearby for making cement.
Walsall as Industrial Revolution Arrives (After Shaw BY Public Domain)
I can imagine visitors from other towns saying when they returned home ‘I thought I saw everything until I visited Walsall’. By 1824 the town had street lighting and its own sewage system! All was good until the gasworks exploded and blew the west window out of the church. But something else was brewing in town that made me write this article.
A Particularly English Problem Was Developing
Fast forward to 17 December, 2021, when the local Express & Star was trumpeting ‘Litter louts warned they will be fined after ‘appalling’ dumping on Walsall streets. This is an offence and they deserve prosecution. Just imagine ‘selfless volunteers collecting 17,000 bags of rubbish dumped by shameless Walsall people in less than a year’ unquote.
Five Days of Fly Tipping in Walsall (Walsall Council Newsroom)
I, Jeffrey Avery of Avery Associates in Mitcham Road, Tooting, South London have travelled through South of England many times. I have passed through Beckenham on my way to Charing Cross and noticed the scourge spreading there too. However, I was in for the shock of my life when I downloaded a copy of Walsall Express & Star on 7 April 2022.
I Thought I Had Seen Everything Until I Saw This!
Now I am not saying for a moment that Walsall tolerates dumping, or that law enforcement is not doing its best. However, the story in Express & Star opened my eyes to something I never knew before. I had no idea until I saw a mountain of waste looming over Haley Street, Short Heath, where I hoped to find the collection.
Dumpsite Opposite Haley Street, Short Heath, Walsall (Google Earth)
I don’t believe in allowing people to dump industrial and household waste, and street litter from house clearances is a responsible way to manage England’s pollution. Especially not when, as the Express & Star puts it, ‘The pile continues to grow, with items including metal, furniture, children’s toys and general waste being dumped there’.
Plans Are Finally Afoot to Remove the Horror
The Express & Star painted a picture of hope after the Council served an enforcement order. However I understand ‘the owners have lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate in a bid to get more time to rectify the issue’. Until then, I supposed the residents will have to put up with the rats and the smell and the noise.
The owner of the collection I came to see had moved out by the time I arrived. I can’t say I blame them for that. In fact I admire them for tolerating the disgrace for so long. I really think it is time we British stood up for our right to the decent countryside we once had when I was young. There are parts of the old way surviving in Walsall, but we ought not leave it too long before they are fouled too.
View into Walsall from St Matthews Church (Derek Bennett BY CC 2.0)
Testimonial
We’re extremely pleased with the house clearance service that Jeffrey provided. This was a daunting and emotionally difficult task for us but Jeffrey was sensitive and polite throughout the process and he and his team did a fantastic job clearing the house efficiently and exactly to our requirements. Many thanks for a really great service, would totally recommend. (Tim and Chris)
