The owner of a beloved Birmingham fish and chip shop is demanding urgent action from authorities after his business became a frequent target for what he describes as a significant increase in fly-tipping.
A Family Business Blighted by Rubbish
For decades, the Katetzis family has run the Wychall Fish Bar on Wychall Road in Kings Norton, with Anthony Katetzis representing the third generation behind the counter. While the Greek-Cypriot family has dealt with occasional fly-tipping in the past, Anthony, 31, states the problem has 'definitely increased' over the past year.
He reports everything from broken glass and debris to full bags of rubbish being dumped outside his premises. The situation has become so severe that he has had to label the shop's own bins to prevent people from using them for their waste, and on one occasion, someone even stole a bin, leaving it discarded further down the road.
Cameras Removed and Community Impact
Anthony revealed that cameras which once monitored the area behind the shop were taken down several years ago and never replaced. He believes reinstating CCTV would be a simple but effective measure to deter offenders. 'Without cameras, we couldn't catch whoever did it,' he told BirminghamLive, referencing an incident where children set fire to dumped rubbish, requiring the fire service.
The environmental crime is having a direct impact on the local community. Anthony, who played football in the area as a child, lamented that it is now unsafe. 'Now kids can't even play football because you'll get cut with the glass and debris,' he said. He also suggested that recent bin strikes may have exacerbated the issue, making it feel like 'people are dumping for the sake of it.'
Council Response and Call for Evidence
Birmingham City Council's environment chief, Councillor Majid Mahmood, responded to the concerns. He condemned fly-tipping as an act carried out by 'environmental criminals' and stated that crews clear hundreds of reports each week.
Regarding the specific issue on Wychall Road in Northfield, he said: 'We will aim to work in the area to identify the root cause of the problems... and will look to assess the site for suitability for CCTV.' He emphasised the council's commitment to prosecuting fly-tippers where possible and encouraged residents to provide reports and evidence.
The council also reminded the public of the numerous lawful options available for responsible waste disposal and stressed that everyone has a role to play in maintaining a clean environment.
