POLLOKSHIELDS residents have called for action after a corner of their neighbourhood has become a hotspot for "revolting" fly tipping.

Locals describe being at their wit's end after more than three years of complaining about the situation, which they say has become worse since two major fires in the area.

On-street bins outside an Albert Drive butcher shop are, neighbours say, encouraging other people to dump waste both on the street and in backcourts.

Glasgow City Council, however, said the shop is adhering to all safety standards and there is no issue with rubbish dumping.

Residents, however, say the area is attracting rats and becoming a health hazard.

Ann Laing, secretary of Pollokshields Community Council, said: "At a time particularly like this when health and safety are at the forefront of everyone’s lives, we would endorse any action taken to help residents of this and adjoining blocks.

"Our spacious backcourts are a valuable resource in this community and should be available for residents to use and enjoy without such concerns.

"The safety of all using our streets is part of a major project for the Community Council and we can only condemn inappropriate rubbish handling at this level."

The Albert Drive area has suffered two devastating fires in five months, one on April 1 this year and another last November.

The November fire saw a tenement block at Albert Cross demolished while the April fire has seen tenants displaced from their homes.

Residents said the corner and backcourts at Glenapp Street, off Albert Drive, have long caused environmental health problems that are not being resolved.

One said: "It is revolting. Even if the council supports businesses storing rubbish on the street, even food waste, this system does not work because other people are making use the situation and leaving bin bags there too.

"I won't let my child walk past it - we cross the street then walk back again - because it is foul."

Another local resident, who lives in a tenement flat nearby, said: "The problem has mellowed recently but it is still an issue and we don't want this to become a dumping ground.

"When the area is cleaned it doesn't take long for it to fill back up again."

Another resident said: "There is a real problem around that part of the street because the bins sit out on the pavement and there can be liquids and remnants of food that attract vermin.

"On a bad day there will be other people just sitting their rubbish out there, rather than taking it to their bins in the backcourt.

"It piles up and piles up and, at one point just after the start of the lockdown, it was 7ft high.

"There has been microwaves and coffee tables and all sorts of stuff.

"For the people living in that block it's pretty grim. There's a constant waterfall of stuff that comes down the street and it's such a mess."

It is common practice for businesses in the city to use on-street wheelie bins for waste disposal.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: "We’ve had a number of enquiries about the premises and their practices in relation to waste disposal.

"Our Commercial Waste Enforcement team have visited the site on a number of occasions and found no evidence to support these complaints.

"Officers have reviewed the waste disposal arrangements and are satisfied the business is in compliance with the appropriate requirements.”