CONCERNS have been raised about a suspected illegal tip in Dickens Heath.
Blythe Councillors Kieth Green and Ken Hawkins it has sprung up on Tythe Barn Lane, on the site of the former Akamba Heritage Centre.
The Conservative councillors were notified of the goings on thanks to concerned residents.
During a visit the duo said they found the entrance was locked, with very large gates preventing any entry.
In a statement they said: “Looking onto the site over a hedgerow from the adjacent grass verge, they found what they believe to be an illegal tip, with large piles of various items of rubble and other construction debris.
“There were skips on site, as well as heavy vehicles. There are reports of heavily laden skips being driven onto the site.”
Coun Green said: “This is a very large site, and there must be many tons of debris dumped on the land.
“We are extremely concerned the site is being used as an illegal tip and have reported this to the council’s planning enforcement officers.
“The items close to houses and nearby sports fields.”
The Councillors presented photographic and video evidence to Solihull Council planning enforcement officers.
Coun Hawkins said, ‘We saw evidence of large fires and are really concerned that not only is the site unauthorised, we are concerned about the type of waste that may be being dumped.”
A Solihull Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the situation and currently looking into it, which involves liaising with the Environment Agency.”
Akamba, known as Solihull’s Arfrican Paradise closed its doors in 2024 after 13 years in the borough.
Over the years owner, Chris Canaan, not only bought a slice of Africa to the borough but also raised funds for the Akamba Children’s Education Fund (ACEF) which worked directly with Brainhouse Academy, a school in Mathare North, Kenya to help children and families in the area.
