By birminghammail.co.uk

Copyright birminghammail

A popular ‘rat run’ was closed after fly-tippers dumped piles of rubbish. Police were called to Merritt’s Hill, which links Allens Cross with Northfield , on Wednesday morning after trash including a sofa and builders waste blocked the route. Drivers were diverted as council workers cleared the enormous piles. Read More: Birmingham taxi driver gets purrfect surprise after hearing cat noises coming from engine Community activist Paul Smith said Merritt’s Hill was a notorious hot spot for dumping and he had presented the council with a petition asking for CCTV. He said he had been told that it was “too awkward to install cameras.” Mr Smith said: “About 8am, residents sent me pictures of fly-tipped rubbish. “They had used a flat bed lorry and dumped it and blocked the whole road. “The police had to close off the road and stay for a few hours, diverting traffic while the council came and collected it up. “It’s a hot spot with dumping nearly every month. I had a petition with 500 names for CCTV but the council won’t fit them because it’s too awkward. “It’s not a main road but popular.” The council has been contacted for comment but is clamping down and prosecuting those who dump rubbish illegally. Council bins boss Majid Mahmood has previously said: “We are determined to identify and prosecute the culprits on this site. “Fly-tipping is a blight on our communities and a serious criminal offence. “We will not tolerate individuals who think they can profit by dumping waste illegally and leaving the clean-up costs to taxpayers. “We are committed to protecting our neighbourhoods and the environment. “Illegal dumping not only scars our streets and green spaces, but it also poses health risks and undermines the hard work of residents who take pride in their communities.”