STOURBRIDGE MP Suzanne Webb has called for an action and investment plan to be developed for Lye after attending a community clean-up at the weekend.

Residents and traders have been at the end of their tether over the last few years as fly-tipping and litter dropping have increased – with a number of businesses in the High Street shutting up shop for good.

Fed-up with the situation - trader Gary Farmer, who runs Poshkutz dog grooming parlour in the High Street, pulled the community together on Sunday (August 9) for a big clean-up operation which made TV headlines.

MP for the Lye area, Suzanne Webb, was among those who turned up in support of the effort and she said afterwards that she would be meeting with Dudley Council officers to discuss an action plan to clean up and invest in Lye.

She said: “It is evident Lye has been under-invested in over some time. There are various issues because of this, some are simple such as the need for more maintenance in the High Street, whereas others are more complex such as the need for real investment and regeneration in the area.

“I would like to see an action and investment plan for Lye developed in conjunction with residents. Working together with the community I hope we can achieve positive outcomes for the area around the High Street and the wider area.”

She welcomed news that Lye is to get new CCTV cameras installed in the High Street to help combat fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour and crime and added: "Residents in Lye want action to tackle the issues that are being raised daily. 2Fly-tipping is clearly an issue which I have seen first-hand during recent visits. CCTV is an important step to combat this illegal behaviour.”

As part of a Dudley Council project to renew CCTV cameras across the borough, Lye will be one of the towns to receive new cameras following replacement of existing cameras elsewhere.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley Council's cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, confirmed last week the council would be installing six CCTV cameras in and around Lye High Street which are expected to be "up and operational in the next couple of months".

Deployable cameras will also be made available to install in hotspots to combat emerging issues such as fly-tipping in different areas.