Lib Dems Claim Labour Failing on Fly Tips and Street Sweeping

Ealing Council says its new campaign is starting to see results

Street sweeping frequency has been reduced from four to two times a year. Picture: Ealing Council

September 24, 2025

Concerns over street cleanliness and service standards in Ealing borough have resurfaced following criticism from opposition councillors, who claim the borough is falling short of its own targets for maintaining public spaces and tackling fly-tipping.

Figures from the third quarter of the 2024/25 financial year show that Ealing Council achieved just 55% of its fly-tip clearance target, well below the stated goal of 95%. The performance indicator was marked “red,” prompting renewed scrutiny of the borough’s waste management and environmental upkeep.

Liberal Democrat councillors argue that the accumulation of fly-tipped waste contributes to a sense of neglect in some areas, undermining Ealing’s historic reputation as the “Queen of the Suburbs.” They also point to reductions in street sweeping frequency—from four times a year to twice annually, with an additional autumn leaf sweep—as evidence of declining service standards. The Lib Dems say the timing of the leaf sweep is crucial, warning that poorly timed clearance can leave pavements covered in rotting leaves until spring.

Budget allocations have also come under the spotlight. Over the past five years, the proportion of council spending on basic universal services—such as parks, playgrounds, street cleaning, and waste collection—has reportedly dropped from 43% in 2020/21 to 25% in 2024/25. Some residents and councillors say this shift has contributed to visible deterioration in the public realm.

Recycling rates remain static at around 50%, with limited progress in recent years. The closure of the Stirling Road recycling site in Acton has left Greenford Road as the borough’s sole facility, which operates five days a week and requires advance booking. The opposition argues that this restricts access and discourages wider participation in recycling efforts.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Malcolm, the Leader of the Opposition said, “Ealing Liberal Democrats expose that Ealing Labour are complacent and inefficient in the delivery of basic universal services for residents. They have let the borough deteriorate across a range of self-proclaimed targets where there is a trail of broken promises of delivery. Instead, Labour have actively reduced the amount of money being allocated to front line services such as fly tip clearance and street cleaning. Liberal Democrats continue to expose where Ealing Labour have failed and suggest where they need to make improvements.”

In response, the Labour group in Ealing says it is taking the issue of fly-tipping seriously. A spokesperson highlighted the launch of the “This is our home, not a tip” campaign in June, which aims to reduce illegal dumping and improve street cleanliness. According to the council, targeted areas have already seen a 55% reduction in fly-tipping since the campaign began.

The council also pointed to results from the 2024 Ealing Resident Survey, which found that 80% of respondents were satisfied with how the council is run. A majority also expressed satisfaction with street cleaning and the quality of parks and open spaces. Ealing currently holds 26 Green Flag Awards, a national benchmark for well-managed public parks.