A road in a conservation area on the border of Croydon, Merton and Sutton has become so covered in dumped rubbish that it has been described as a health risk.

Redhouse Road leads off from Croydon Road and runs along the edge of Mitcham Common. Although the road itself is private, belonging to the Mitcham Driving Test Centre which is located at the end of it, the area around the road is not owned by the test centre, and that is where the repeated fly-tipping takes place.

Neil Judge, of Heron Way, Wallington, described the area as “filthy”, but said no one takes responsibility for it because of the road's position on the border of the boroughs.

Mr Judge said: “It’s such an eyesore. You have rats that live there, that run across the road.

“It’s just generally a really unpleasant site, and it’s been like it for years. People use it as a dumping ground for anything they can think of.

"It's a hazard. It's just a matter of time before someone gets hurt."

A spokeswoman for Croydon Council said Redhouse Road falls under the jurisdiction of Sutton Council, and a spokeswoman for Merton Council said the land belongs to Sutton Council and the Mitcham Common Conservators.

However, a spokesman for Sutton Council said the land was private and did not belong to Sutton Council.

He added: “We are currently trying to establish who owns Redhouse Road and once we do will seek authority to clear the fly tip.

“We are working hard to keep the borough clean and can only clear fly tip from unadopted roads once we have permission from the landowner.

“If we are not given authority to clear this fly tip, we will work with the landowner to ensure it is cleared by a third party.

“Should the landowner not fulfil their duties and clear the tip, we will take appropriate action.”

Mitcham Common Conservators could not be reached for comment.

Mr Judge said: “It’s supposed to be a conservation area. To have all that rubbish there is an embarrassment.

"The area is being ruined by the fly tipping.

“Someone must be accountable for the road. I just want someone to take responsibility for it.

"It has to stop.”

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