Mystery of distasteful Rawmarsh pizza dough dumping saga

THICK fly-tippers dumping bags of pizza dough are being warned by cheesed off litterpickers: “We’re watching you.”
Dumped pizza doughDumped pizza dough
Dumped pizza dough

Dedicated volunteers from Rawmarsh and Parkgate Friends of Green Spaces said they were regularly clearing up the unusual loads as they were being constantly dumped on Old Warren Vale, Rawmarsh.

The council has said it is investigating the unsavoury issue which is spreading across the north of the borough.

Volunteer John Wright (66) said: “It first occurred about five months ago.

“There were three big black sacks full - we thought: ‘This is an unusual one’.”

The seven-strong group has been litterpicking for two-and-a-half years.

“Every time we have done a pick there we have picked up at least two or four bags of dough,” he said.

“We mentioned it on our Facebook group and  thought it would stop but it’s started again.”

John added: “Our message to the culprit is: ‘We’re watching you.’

“It’s extremely frustrating. We go every week and it’s sad when you find that (fly-tipping) every time.

“We also found industrial-size cans of oil that related to a takeaway pizza place. 

“We contacted the supplier to find out who they supplied to in our area but for confidentiality reasons they couldn’t tell us.

“We have never approached any businesses. We hope the council’s enforcement team can get on with that, but it appears they haven’t yet.”

John said Old Warren Vale, where he also lives, had always been a fly-tipping hotspot but it was 

“impossible to put a camera in such a dark place”, adding: “I have had Streetpride remove stuff dumped on my drive.”

Tom Smith, assistant director of community safety and street scene at Rotherham Council, said: 

“The enforcement team are investigating deposits of pizza dough in various locations in the north of the borough, and we are committed to using all available legislation to catch and prosecute those who illegally dispose of their waste.

“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months imprisonment if convicted in a magistrates’ court. The offence can attract an unlimited fine and up to five years imprisonment if convicted in a crown court.”

 

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