Harrow Council should offer a paid service to clear up all fly-tips on private land, according to the deputy leader of the borough’s Conservative Group.

Cllr Marilyn Ashton, who represents Stanmore Park ward, suggested members of the public would be “happy to pay” for the council to remove dumped rubbish.

She said she appreciates the responsibility for dealing with fly-tips on private land lies with the landowner but called on the council to support its residents by offering to help out for an appropriate fee.

“This is not right,” she said. “We have got to be more helpful. We are supposed to be providing services for people – surely we can do better than just saying ‘we don’t do that’.”

She referenced a situation in her own ward where a fly-tip was “blocking the [private] road” and the owners had to pay £180 to a private service to have it removed.

Cllr Graham Henson, leader of Harrow Council, agreed this would be a “nice” service to offer.

But he explained strained council finances mean it would not be possible to clear up every fly-tip on private land – even if it was paid for it.

“We took the decision that we can no longer afford to clear them out, we do not have the resources to coordinate that,” he said.

“Yes, it would be nice to do it, yes, we would like it, but we simply do not have the resources.”

He criticised the Government’s austerity policies which, he said, means the council is “struggling” to provide its statutory services and does not have the luxury of providing additional ones.

He suggested residents make use of the council’s commercial waste team, which can clear land for £250 – this cost can be shared between neighbours on shared private land.

There is also a bulky waste removal service, which will clear four large items for £30 or eight for £50. Mattresses can be picked up for £10.

The council urged residents to report all cases of fly-tipping online so it can be investigated quickly.

It reminded them that contractors used to clear rubbish from private land must be a registered waste carrier.