Rubbish black-spot is cleared

A council has moved in to clear “horrendous” heaps of rubbish dumped at an attractive moorland beauty spot.

Kirklees council acted after furious Saddleworth residents said mounds of rubbish had blighted a site close to the Pennine Way on the A635 Greenfield to Holmfirth road.

A shocked motorist first signalled the problems, saying the “situation was horrendous”.

And farmer Angela Crowther was among complainants who highlighted the magnitude of the dumping problem.

She said: "The dumping is truly shocking.

"It’s right at a beauty spot near the Pennine Way famed for its views.

"But it’s been completely ruined.

"There is all kinds of rubbish dumped.

“In addition to the bags of rubbish there was plastic wrapped meat, saying “pet food only not for human consumption” with an identity.”

A spokesperson for Kirklees Council confirmed the site had now been cleared.

This followed an earlier statement from David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration at Kirklees Council, who said: “We are aware of the fly-tipping on Holmfirth Road near to the Saddleworth border.

"We have been supporting Yorkshire Water as landowner, but there have been delays in removing it due to the weather and the suspected presence of asbestos which has since come back negative after testing.

“It will be removed shortly and our teams will assess it for any evidence. 

"We have a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping in Kirklees and where possible our team always seek to prosecute those responsible.

“We would encourage anyone who spots fly-tipping taking place or has any information to aid an investigation, to report it on our website: www.kirklees.gov.uk/flytipping."

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.