A RAT-infested fly-tip next to Billericay Station could see council bosses take enforcement action after mattresses and radiators were dumped on the land.

Basildon Council has ordered the landowner to “clear the site as soon as possible” after rats were spotted scurrying from the fly-tip which appears to include the remnants of a gutted home.

Alongside mattresses and radiators, broken wooden slats and other household items have been dumped on the site close to Radford Way.

Phil Turner, who ran in yesterday’s election as a Tory Billericay West candidate, fears the fly-tip is impacting homes and has demanded enforcement action is taken if it is not cleared urgently.

He said: “I really sympathise with the residents; this is where I get so frustrated by this. If you had an issue like this, you would go hell for leather to get it cleaned, why is there a pedestrian attitude to this from the council?

“Customer service seems to have gone to rock bottom. We are elected to serve, and someone needs to go and get it resolved.”

Mr Turner added that at the start of March he reported the tip for the second time and the council was initially unable to track down the landowner.

“I know many of our residents are concerned by the number of rat sightings behind the shops at Radford Way,” he said.

“Officers has been attempting to trace the owners of the site.

“We have recently found that the last registered owner of the land sold it at some point last year to two private individuals, whose contact details we now have”.

Mr Turner added that officers have formally written to the owners of the land to ensure the prompt clearance of the waste.

“Please be assured that this is a live investigation and we will move decisively now that we have ascertained the owners of the site,” he said.

A spokesman said: “Basildon Council has identified the landowner and we are in contact with them to ensure that the site is cleared as soon as possible.”