Petition prompts council to re-examine details of controversial dump proposals

A crowd of protesters gathered outside Rotherham Town Hall as councillors received a petition of more than 2,000 names asking for help over concerns that a landfill site could be re-opened to take 200,000 tonnes of waste a year.
Attention: Protesters spoke to councillors ahead of submitting their petition to a meeting in RotherhamAttention: Protesters spoke to councillors ahead of submitting their petition to a meeting in Rotherham
Attention: Protesters spoke to councillors ahead of submitting their petition to a meeting in Rotherham

The names were gathered by the Droppingwell Action Group, asking the council to take enforcement action over plans to re-open a landfill site at Kimberworth which was sealed after it went out of use in the 1990s – with the council now taking the issue back to its scrutiny board for further examination of the circumstances.The group gathered more than 2,000 signatures but fewer than 1,600 are regarded as ‘valid’ by the council.However, council leader Chris Read said the situation would still go before councillors for further examination.It is the latest twist in a long-running and complex saga relating to the dump, which Action Group spokesman Steve McKenna said had gone out of use in the 1990s.The Environment Agency had granted a permit for it to be re-opened to take more waste, he said, with the process of formalising that currently paused while checks were conducted to make sure procedures were properly in place.Mr McKenna told councillors the site was in close proximity to a school and football pitches used by the Millmoor Juniors football club, leading to concerns about the impact on them if the site was re-opened.“Three years ago I asked if you could support us in our campaign against this," he said. “You unanimously decided to do so. Three years later, really you have decided you have gone as far as you can in this respect.“Our opinion as a community is you are throwing us under a bus.“I would like to ask what about pollution, increased traffic? What about lorries passing within yards of children playing football? What about wildlife, noise? The list is endless."Mr McKenna said he understood Rotherham Council and Environment Agency were in the process of issuing joint press releases on the topic, saying “This hardly indicates opposition."He said he understood Rotherham Council had sought legal opinion from a barrister about its position in the legal process, but that advice was “not acted upon due to cost implications”.Adressing a full meeting of the council, he said: “Can I ask what price the council puts on the health and safety of residents and children playing football right next door to this nightmare of a tip?"Council leader Chris Read responded: “I know it has been a frustrating and difficult time for them. A referral to scrutiny will cast some more light on the matter.”