Village beauty spot blighted by fly-tipping

Residents have called for the area of Holmes Lane at Hooton Roberts to be blocked off because the problem is so bad.

They said nearby Howdike Lane was also a hotspot.

Eddie Herbert, vice-chair of Hooton Roberts parish council, said fly-tipping had been going on for several years but become worse since household recycling centres barred commercial waste.

“It’s a very dark area and people can go and dump there without being seen,” he said.

“When I take the dog on there it looks like someone spends the evening eating burgers and chucking them out of the window.

“You have got to have your wits about you.”

Mr Herbert said that the parish council had asked Rotherham Borough Council to install a gate but been knocked back because it is a public road, even though it does not lead anywhere.

A council spokeswoman said the road could not blocked off as it is an adopted highway and access is needed by farmers and people going to business premises.

Grant Morement, a member of Rotherham Green Party, said he was shocked when he visited the area and saw the waste that had been dumped.

He said he had written to Rotherham Council to demand action.

“I learnt that rubbish has been there for over a year,” he added.

“It’s got gradually worse and worse.

“There have been a few residents who have contacted the council in the past. 

“All the council have done is put up a sign saying not to dump there. They need to stop people going up there.

“There’s quite a range of things that are dumped.

“I was horrified by what I saw.”

Karen Hanson, Rotherham Council’s assistant director for community safety and street scene, said the lauthority was aware of the problem and had received eight reports of tipping at Holmes Lane or Howdike Lane since January.

Council officers visited the site daily and signs had been put up warning offenders the site is under surveillance, she said.

Ms Hanson insisted the council would prosecute dumpers or rogue waste carriers, with the maximum penalty being five years in prison.

“Where we find evidence we will prosecute,” she said.

“There have been two recent prosecutions relating to illegal dumping of waste at this site.

“If anyone has further information about fly-tipping in Hooton Roberts, we’d be keen to hear from them.”

Last year a man was successfully prosecuted and fined £390 for fly-tipping at the site and another case resulted in a £300 fine after someone whose waste was found tipped on the lane who was not able to prove it had been taken by a licensed contractor.

Fly-tipping can be reported online at www.rotherham.gov.uk/report or by telephoning the council on 336003.