A THIRD of all fly-tipping incidents across Barnsley are reported in Kingstone - and a local councillor has questioned whether the number of HMOs in the area has any impact.
Kingstone has one of the highest concentrations of houses of multiple occupancies in Barnsley, with both Park Road and Park Grove having a large number of those types of properties.
Park Grove currently has six and Park Road eight meaning on just two stretches of road there are 14 houses of multiple occupation.
Coun Steve Bullcock, who represents the Kingstone ward, told the Chronicle: “HMOs play a vital and important part in housing stock in Barnsley - this as a consequence of the lack of new social housing being built or available.
“People need somewhere to live that’s a foregone conclusion - these properties should be clean safe damp free and safety certificates should always be up to date.
“Most HMOs are managed properly - although there is strong feeling among local residents that some are poorly managed by an absent or distant landlords and agents and ‘aided and abetted’ by a small minority of irresponsible tenants.
“What Kingstone residents want is to ensure all HMOs that do exist are managed and monitored frequently to ensure waste disposal is managed properly and sufficient dustbins are in place and relevant collections are in place and working properly
“They expect buildings and gardens to be properly maintained to an acceptable standard.
“The downside of the HMO housing sector it that it removes good sound larger family properties from the open housing market for local families to purchase.”
More than 1,000 reports of fly-tipping occurred in the Kingstone ward last year - accounting for around a third of all incidents across Barnsley.
Coun Bullcock, who has been an advocate for strategic efforts to be made to tackle fly-tipping in his ward, has questioned whether or not the sheer number of HMOs is a contributing factor.
He added: “Independent reports and studies are undertaken nationally by Keep Britain Tidy and acknowledge that HMOs present specific waste management challenges.
“In addition to generating more waste than other property types, anecdotal evidence from local authorities suggest these properties produce low recycling rates, high levels of recycling contamination as well as incorrect presentation of waste and fly-tipping.
“This in turn can result in overflowing bins littering our communities and encouraging vermin.
“It needs to be to be studied and established if there is a direct correlation of the acknowledged large amount of HMO properties that exist in the Kingstone ward that contribute to the consistently high levels of fly-tipping.
“Are maximum umber of HMOs in the Kingstone ward being breached?
“Fourteen over two specific named roads - Park Road and Park Grove - seems on the surface to be a significant number.
“Perhaps the council should undertake a study in the Kingstone ward.”
He has also questioned the use of article four which limits the works that can be carried out without needing planning permission from the council.
For example, householders can normally make minor alterations to their houses without requiring planning permission.
Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, has urged residents to get in touch should they be concerned about HMOs or fly-tipping.
He added: “Since 2021, as a result of bringing in a borough-wide article four direction, every potential house of multiple occupation now requires planning permission and consideration against the policies contained within our Local Plan.
“While our data does not suggest that fly-tipping is more prevalent in areas with higher numbers of houses of multiple occupation, if residents have any concerns or would like to report any antisocial behaviour cases to us, they can do so on our website, by calling 773555 or by emailing safer@barnsley.gov.uk.”
