Call for action over ‘rat infestation’ near Sheffield station

Residents are calling for more to be done to tackle fly-tipping after rats were spotted scurrying around waste near a city railway station.
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The subway beneath Darnall station has become a dumping hotspot, with a shocking video showing a fridge freezer, child’s bicycle and sofa discarded there.

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Elizabeth Middleton, aged 41, who highlighted the appalling state of the underpass between Creswell Road and Staniforth Road, also photographed a dead rat at the site, which she told The Star is infested with the rodents.

One of the dead rats.One of the dead rats.
One of the dead rats.
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Our coverage has prompted a number of Star readers to come forward and express their disgust on Facebook.

Cheryl Downs described it as a “right mess” and added that the litter has “been there for weeks.”

Andy Fergusson added: “Sad to say that these very unpleasant critters are a purge of our system these days and until our local councils take their heads out of the sand as regards rubbish removal they will just increase in numbers.”

Another reader posted: “They are everywhere, don't know why they can't cull these instead of the grey squirrels.

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“I found a dead one on my back door that my cat had killed, there has never been as many.”

Sheffield City Council insisted the subway in Darnall was routinely cleaned and said it aims to clear dumped waste from any site within 14 days of it being reported.

Ian Ashmore, the council’s head of environmental protection, said there were no outstanding reports of dumping at the underpass.

He added: “However, we can see from the video shared that it looks in a bad state and will go out and check the area, removing any waste. We will also review whether there is anything we can do to make it more difficult for people to dump waste here.

“This is really not acceptable and if evidence is found among the waste we will look at prosecuting those responsible.”