Kingston Council’s refusal to move a dumped mattress for four months has left the local government ombudsman ‘astonished’.
A resident asked the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames council to remove the waste, which had been dumped in a river in a council-run park.
The local authority argued it was not its responsibility and suggested the man contact the Environment Agency.
The resident complained to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which concluded it was Kingston’s duty to remove the waste, as it was in ‘water on council land’.
The council has since removed the mattress.
Ombudsman Amerdeep Somal said: ‘I am disappointed by the council’s inflexibility in this case, and quite astonished it has taken such a long time to put right what should have been a simple task to remove the mattress from the river, which is barely ankle deep.’
Ms Somal added: ‘I was surprised by the lack of value and pride the council appeared to put in maintaining the park that it provides for its residents at significant cost.’
A council spokesperson said: ‘Protecting our environment is everyone’s responsibility - councils, residents, businesses and our regulators.
‘We accept the ruling, which was primarily one of defining roles and responsibilities between councils and the Environment Agency.’
