Anger as neighbourhood becomes ‘dumping ground of south Sheffield’

Green Party councillor Paul Turpin, representative for Gleadless Valley, said his ward is one of the greenest in Sheffield but over recent years increased fly tipping was turning it into a tip.

He said around 50 fly tipping items were cleaned up in just the past two weeks but one area in particular, called The Lumb, was notorious.

Following a visit to the area of steep woodland, Coun Turpin posted photographs showing the extent of fly tipping at the site.

They showed The Lumb covered in things like mattresses, carpets, televisions, a bicycle and various other rubbish.

Coun Turpin said: “It’s just like an open landfill, it’s absolutely shocking. It’s the sort of scene you see on TV when they are showing places in developing countries.

“It’s a symptom of the really poor waste contract that we have, it’s easier for people to just throw their rubbish over the fence.

“The whole of my ward is becoming the dumping ground of south Sheffield and that’s because Veolia are not providing the right service.

“You can’t get onto the tip and people who are trying to get rid of their waste responsibly are getting fined. It’s easier for people to just drive up the road and chuck the rubbish out instead.

“Going and seeing it is just mind-blowing. It’s just awful.

“There is so much rubbish there that people have no qualms about throwing more over, one bit of rubbish attracts more rubbish and if the place was clean and tidy people wouldn’t be so eager to chuck their rubbish over there.

“It’s going to take a major clean up programme.

“At the moment my ward is reaping the wind of the city’s waste problem and it’s not fair, it’s not equal.

“It’s really sad that it’s been treated in this way and it doesn’t have to be like this.”

Veolia said it does not fall within its remit.

Neil Townrow, waste management officer at Sheffield Council said: “Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic our Household Waste Recyling Centres remained open but we had to limit the number of people allowed at each site to ensure safe social distancing. Whilst we understand this may cause some frustration, these measures are in place to protect the public and our workforce, and are in line with Government social distancing rules that allow us to keep them open.

“Under no circumstances should anyone flytip their waste. This is illegal and where we have evidence offenders will be prosecuted, with fines of up to £50,000 and 12 months imprisonment. All household waste should be disposed of using the bin collection services provided, at a HWRC, through the bulky waste collection service or using a registered skip company.

“From 1st April our HWRCs will change to the summer opening times that will mean sites stay open for an extra two hours a day. We will also be announcing additional changes to increase site capacity in the next week.”

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