A SOUTH Ham resident has labelled the area where he lives as a “dump” as fly-tipping continues to plague a section of properties owned by housing association Sovereign.

Trevor Rose, 55, has lived in South Ham Road since 1993 and has continually complained to Sovereign about the deteriorating condition of the area’s garages and streets as fly-tippers target the road.

Over the last year, objects such as bath-tubs, cookers and sofas have been left out on the street.

But with Sovereign only checking the area once every two weeks, the items turn the road into an eyesore for weeks at a time.

“When people walk through this part of Basingstoke, they feel it is neglected,” Trevor said.

“It feels like a dump where people just put their old things that they don’t want. I got home from work the other night to find a cooker had just been left on the pavement but we have had everything dumped there like freezers and lawn-mowers.

“If Sovereign put more care into the area and made it look better, less people would target it.

“I have complained about the state of the garages for years because the paint is peeling on them – it’s the worst I have seen since 1993.”

Sovereign, one of the country’s biggest housing associations which owns more than 38,000 properties across the south and south west, has advised that it will work with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) in order to clear the area.

A spokesperson for Sovereign said: “We’re aware of some fly-tipping around these garages so we visit every fortnight to check the area and clear up any rubbish. 

“A housing officer visited the area on Friday and there are some bin bags and other items which we’ve arranged to be collected today. 

“A cooker has been dumped nearby on land belonging to BDBC, so we’ve let them know and they’ll be along to collect this soon. 

“We’re already planning to tidy up the area in the next few weeks, such as cutting back some of the bushes, and we’ll continue to regularly visit the site to check for any fly-tipping. 

“However we’d urge residents to keep an eye out for anyone dumping rubbish in this area and report it to us and the council.”

The Gazette reported in October that lazy fly-tippers had cost Basingstoke taxpayers more than £200,000 in just three years. But those thoughtlessly blighting our borough are getting away with their crimes, with the council registering no convictions last year.