EAST End residents have hit out at a growing litter problem within the back courts of their tenement homes.

Dead animals, piles of rubbish and food waste have become a regular fixture for residents living in Dennistoun.

Glasgow Times:

John McInnes, who lives in Duke Street, claims the problem has got so bad, the area is now infested with rats.

The litter problem has arisen because the area has small metal bins for household waste instead of larger wheelie bins.

Residents pack the bins with their rubbish which results in the bins overflowing.

And when the waste hits the ground, it is the responsibility of those living in the tenements to pick it up but many don't.

Council bin men are also reliant on householders giving them entry via the close to the back courts to lift bins.

If they are not granted access via the controlled entry, they can’t lift bins.

John, who owns his property, said: "It got so bad a few years ago, I phoned the Fire Brigade.

"I live in the first floor flat and I could touch the rubbish from my window.

"I have seen rats many times and the problem just seems to be getting worse."

Glasgow Times:

Another Dennistoun resident, who asked not to be named, said: “This has been going on for years, but things are getting progressively worse.

“The old metal bins are constantly overflowing which leads to rubbish being strewn around the back courts.

“These bins are not fit for purpose. They are rusting and regularly filled with stagnant water because the lids won’t fit properly as they are crammed full of rubbish.

“Lack of recycling is another bugbear. I live in a tenement with eight flats and we only have two blue wheelie bins between us. It’s a disgrace.”

Glasgow City Council have confirmed they will monitor the back courts affected by the problem.

Glasgow Times:

The local authority can call in environmental health who have the power to serve a public health notice to all residents within the flats affected to clear up their own mess.

Those residents are usually be given a specified period to complete the clean out.

But if they fail to comply with the notice, the public health team can issue a fixed penalty notice to all residents within the property and then contact cleansing to carry out a clean-up which is recharged.

Glasgow Times:

An inspection was carried out on the back court on Friday, May 13.

During that inspection, there was bulk which had not been called in by residents.

Posters were there placed in the close to inform residents of the bulk procedures.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “The council is not responsible for clearing the rubbish that is discarded within back courts.

"Under the Environment Protection Act, the council is responsible for collection of waste from the bins.

"Responsibility for the clearing of the rubbish scattered across the back court lies with the residents themselves or, where applicable, the registered social landlord or local housing association.

“We will be monitoring this back court and if the residents are not disposing of their waste properly it will be passed to public health.”