A mountain of rubbish has formed near people’s homes and a pub despite formal letters and complaints being raised.

The rubbish has piled up behind The Cother Arms that joins flats in Salisbury Road, Watford.

One person who lives nearby said they saw a rat run out from the waste one morning.

They said that they have reported the overflowing rubbish to environmental health on September 18 and again on September 30.

Watford Observer: The rubbish at the flats and near the back of The Cother ArmsThe rubbish at the flats and near the back of The Cother Arms (Image: Submitted)“The residents stop putting the rubbish in the bin and the bin men stop taking it. It has piled up for nearly three or four weeks. It happens regularly and the mountain gets bigger by the day,” they said.

Andrew Creighton is the block of flats’ management agent and it has said that the waste will be collected today (October 3).

However, Watford Borough Council told the Watford Observer it has contacted the management agent several times over the rubbish.

Councillor Kennedy Rodrigues, portfolio holder for environment, said the council remains committed to working “diligently” to resolve the issue with the managing agents and property owner.

Watford Observer: How the area should lookHow the area should look (Image: Google Street View)They added: “It is the responsibility of property owner to ensure that their residents dispose of waste correctly.

“We have worked directly with their managing agent over a long period of time and have delivered numerous letters and emails to all parties reminding them of their responsibilities.

“We have also given advice to the agents on how to avoid illegally dumped waste being left in the future.”

Watford Observer: One resident says the rubbish gets worse by the day.One resident says the rubbish gets worse by the day. (Image: Submitted)Watford Borough Council added it will continue to work with the managing agents to make sure the waste is removed.

The rubbish can be seen close to the back of The Cother Arms pub.

A spokesperson for Stonegate, which owns the pub, stressed the rubbish is not from or to do with The Cother Arms, but said they were sorry that residents were facing issues due to the waste.

They added: “The team at The Cother Arms are currently putting extra hygiene and safety measures in place to ensure the area is clean and free from pests and that the build-up of discarded waste from external sources does not affect our business.”