Pride in the name of Goldthorpe

Volunteers from the Goldthorpe Development Group, Dearne community and Carrfield Primary Academy swept into action last week and cleaned up a number of problem spots around the village of Goldthorpe.

The team of trashbusters came together on Thursday and again on Saturday to wage war on waste after the village received negative publicity as the subject of Channel Four’s Britain’s Benefit Tenants.

Goldthorpe resident Charlotte Johnson, who is part of the driving-force behind the group, said: “The programme was a little unfair but it really served to focus some minds in the community and, hopefully, it will encourage people to come forward and help to clear up.”

Charlotte added: “We really want people to start to take pride in the village and help tackle the fly-tipping issue.

“There’s always someone ready to say: ‘Well, that’s not my rubbish, why should I clear it up’, but it’s not mine either, I just want the area to look nice and people to foster a bit of community spirit.”

Charlotte said that certain areas targeted by last week’s clean-up had been reported to Barnsley Council over 12 months ago, but no action had been taken.

Among the items cleared by the volunteers were sofas, old televisions, mattresses and even dead rats.