Anger voiced at Droppingwell public meeting

More than 150 people turned out for a public meeting to discuss plans for Droppingwell tip, which is set for 205,000 tonnes of rubbish a year.

But there was anger that no-one attended from the Environment Agency - which granted the permit - or waste firm MHH Contracting.

Among the residents to speak was former councillor Simon Currie, who said: “What are we going to do? We’ve got our rights to protest.

“We got that tip stopped before, chained ourselves to the gates. That’s what I’m prepared to do.

“Are we prepared to fight if this goes forward? I will be there with chains and padlocks.”

The suggestion brought applause at the meeting, hosted by Rotherham North Area Assembly at Winterhill School last Thursday.

One resident said: “It might be that the only way is to stand in front of those gates and say: ‘You’re not coming in.’ I will stand with him at those gates.”

Grange Landfill - a mutual company of MHH Contracting - was granted the permit earlier this year to resume dumping.

The original waste permit for the land at Kimberworth dates back to 1955 but activity stopped after a public inquiry in the 1990s.

Resident Anthony Prewett, of Webster Close, said: “We suffered great discomfort and problems in the 90s, with about 70 lorries accessing that site every day. It was never possible to sit out in the garden in sunny weather.

“The thought of having 60 or 70 lorries crossing to get around the U-turn on a 40mph road, where many people do 50mph, is absolutely horrific. 

“Two lorries will not be able to pass one-another. It’s an absolute nightmare of traffic.”

The EA chose to not consult with the public or Rotherham Borough Council over the new permission, believing there would be no controversy.

Damien Wilson, RMBC’s strategic director for regeneration and environment, said this had been a “big, big mistake”, showing they did not understand the site’s history.

The council had also been blindsided by the new permission, he added, but was trying “every route possible” to stop the tip reopening.

One tactic was refusing access but MHH Contracting produced written evidence - some dating back to 1929 - suggesting it has permission.

The volume of traffic, route taken, hours of operation and residential amenity - including air pollution - are other areas being explored.

Area assembly chairman Cllr Ian Jones said it was difficult to get answers without a full panel at the meeting. He suggested a campaign in the press and on social media. 

Keppel ward member Cllr Maggi Clark said she remembered the problems in the 80s and 90s and was terrified about what might happen now.

“We have to keep this in the public eye now,” she added: “I’m very, very fearful of what might possibly happen.”

The EA said representatives were not able to attend. A leaflet it issued on the same day said: “We are unable to answer questions about potential contamination from the first phase of land filling as we do not have any monitoring data available.

“We expect to start receiving monitoring data for the site within the next four months.”

A final decision on the permit would follow, it added.