Beauty spot 'day-tippers' blight West Yorkshire's rural lanes

In one corner of Kirklees, disapproving residents have dubbed the offenders 'day-tippers' to reflect the theory that people are enjoying a trip out to see the area's remote splendour, then dumping items in laybys, farmers' fields and rural lanes.

In one incident highlighted yesterday, a large quantity of garden waste - including numerous plant pots with soil inside - was discarded at the side of the scenic Holme Moss route, which runs between Holmfirth and Derbyshire.

A passing motorist, who did not wish to be named, took pictures of the mess and questioned the thinking of the offenders.

The view towards Holmfirth from Holme Moss was blighted on July 20 by yet another fly-tipping incident

He said: "Half way up Holme Moss, on the Yorkshire side, someone has dumped a load of plant pots next to a layby - absolutely loads of them.

"It's happening too often. People in my local pub have been talking about it - calling them 'day-tippers' who drive out here for a 'pic-tip', where they have a picnic in a relaxing place then tip a load of waste. When you think about it, how contradictory and messed up is their thinking?"

He said the trend seemed to have started during the Covid lockdowns, when many tips were closed, but had worsened again during the recent hot spell as people flocked to beauty spots.

He added: "Let's not forget that 99.9 per cent of visitors to this valley are law-abiding decent people who are welcome anytime, but it's a shame when a small minority spoil the area for the rest." 

DIY remnants, unwanted furniture and garden waste are among the items that have been left scattered across the area. In another recent incident in May, a quantity of rubble and part of an unwanted kitchen were dumped in a scenic layby near Honley, near a bench that offers far-reaching views towards landmarks such as Huddersfield's Castle Hill and the iconic Emley Moor television mast.

A layby between Honley and Netherthong, Kirklees, in May 2022, with rubble and part of an unwanted kitchen fly-tipped

After dealing with a fly-tipping incident at Holmbridge, near Holmfirth, in April this year, West Yorkshire Police said: "It is upsetting to see our beautiful countryside littered in this way."

Officers urged the public to take the registration number of anyone they see fly-tipping. 

The Countryside Alliance has also raised concerns about the problem and has said previously: "Without a question, fly-tipping is a blight to the countryside and needs to be treated as a serious crime."

The Alliance has also pointed out that it's a crime where the victim often has to pay financially, as they have to remove the waste or risk a fine themselves.

Kirklees Council has been taking action to crack down on the problem, with its Greenspace Action Team recently helping to secure the prosecution of a man who had travelled from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, to dump a number of items off a semi-rural lane on the outskirts of Huddersfield.

Kirklees Council has been keen to make clear its tough stance on the issue, recently stating that it "will not tolerate this criminal and anti-social behaviour, what is more, most Kirklees residents will not either."

Around a month ago, the Council even crushed a vehicle that had been used for fly-tipping in a move designed to send a stark message to would-be offenders.

Similar attempts to tackle the problem have been made in other parts of West Yorkshire, including Bradford.

In March, the T&A reported how a Bradford man was fined for driving out to a semi rural part of Calderdale before dumping a mattress in Northowram. 

In recognition of the fact that fly-tipping is a problem that transcends county boundaries, the councils in Leeds and Bradford combined for a joint operation in the Otley area earlier this year, stopping a number of vehicles in a crackdown on illegal waste carriers and fly-tippers.