Fly-tipping 'eyesore' blights former Beacon pub site

The Beacon in Buttershaw became famous thanks to the work of Andrea Dunbar, and features in key scenes of her modern classic Rita, Sue and Bob Too.

It was also in The Beacon where Dunbar collapsed after suffering a brain haemorrhage that proved to be fatal in 1990.

The pub was demolished and the site has outline planning permission to build eight one/two-storey workshops.

Fly-tipping at the former Beacon Hotel site in Buttershaw (Image: Newsquest)

But the site has been used by fly-tippers and is strewn with rubbish, much to the frustration of local residents.

"It's got worse in the last few weeks," said one resident who lives at nearby Bretton Court.

"The rubbish has started to spill over onto the pavement.

"It's full of all sorts of rubbish including a fridge freezer, a three-piece suite, bags of rubbish and tins of paint.

Fly-tipping at the former Beacon Hotel site (Image: Newsquest)

"It's getting to the point that it's an eyesore in the area. It's looking worse and worse all the time.

"There are rats running around the site. We're (Bretton Court) just above the site, but the rubbish is spilling out onto the pavement.

The resident, who did not want to be named, claimed that the site is an easy target for fly-tippers because it is not secure.

"There are two panels up, which is like temporary fencing, but that doesn't stop anyone.

"I think there should be a fence up to stop them.

"They're on about closing recycling plants, which would only make it worse for sites like this."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of problems at this location and are liaising with the owner to ensure the site is cleared of all fly-tipping and rubbish.

“Fly-tipping blights communities and is simply unacceptable so we do everything we can to crack down on it.

“This year we investigated just over 2000 fly-tipping incidents, issued 70 fixed penalty notices and seized eight vehicles involved in the crime.

“If anyone has information about fly-tipping, please report it at bradford.gov.uk/flytipping or call 01274 432111.”

The landowner, John Cordingley, did not wish to comment. 

In 2019, a planning application to demolish the pub and build 18 houses in its place was approved by Bradford Council.

After those plans were scrapped, an initial outline application to develop the land as an industrial estate was refused, but then in July an outline application proposal for eight workshops was approved.