Anger as fly-tipping dumped at Bullroyd Allotments

Furniture, a fridge, and tonnes of litter bags greeted those at Bullroyd Allotments, off Allerton Road, on Saturday morning.

It is understood a key was used to enter the Bradford Council-owned premises and commit the act overnight.

The council says its teams have been asked to clear the mess at the allotments, which have 70 occupied plots, as a "matter of urgency".

It was dumped in the area on Friday night (Image: UGC) Steve Prosser, chairman of Bullroyd Allotment Association, claims the area is currently a "major health hazard".

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, Mr Prosser said: “It has all been dumped inside our gates, so there has to be someone with a key.

“Last September, we were told digital locks would be used but that has been promised for a while. They recently told me the contractors have been delayed.

Furniture, a fridge, and tons of litter bags were dumped (Image: UGC) “Saturday morning I had a phone call saying someone had gone in Friday night and tipped all sorts in there; food and waste. It is a major health hazard.

“It is council property, they have to do something about it.

“We have had to buy a padlock and put it on ourselves to stop it happening again. 

"We have never had this problem until the tips (in Queensbury, Keighley, and Ilkley) got closed."

Stephen Prosser is the chairman of the Bullroyd Allotment Association (Image: Newsquest) In response to these comments, a Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We have been made aware of the fly-tipping that has appeared over the weekend.

"We have asked our teams to clear it as a matter of urgency and have arranged for the replacement locks to be installed as soon as possible.

"Steve’s own lock can then be returned to him.”

The council says its teams have been asked to clear the mess as a matter of urgency (Image: UGC) It comes after Ford Hill at Queensbury, Sugden End in Keighley, and Golden Butts in Ilkley tips all permanently shut in April.

The move attracted much criticism at the time - but the Council said they would save £900,000 a year by doing so.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for healthy people and places, said: “We know many people are not happy with these closures. 

"We’re not happy ourselves having to make these cuts, but unfortunately, the council’s financial situation means we need to go ahead with the closures."

A spokesperson from the council added: "Like all councils across the country, Bradford Council faces unprecedented financial challenges over the next few years and has to reduce its size and how much it delivers. The closures form part of these savings.

"Ford Hill, Sugden End, and Golden Butts were chosen for closure, as they are the least used of all the HWRCs in the district. Closure of the sites will provide the council with a saving of £900,000 per year.

"According to research by sustainability and waste experts WRAP, Bradford district currently has an unusually high number of HWRCs, compared to other areas.

"It has the highest number of HWRCs per 100,000 population in the region."

Also that month, Bradford Council doubled the rental charges at allotments across the district.

Anyone looking to rent allotment space has to pay £101 per plot. The full annual fee equates to a cost of £1.94 per week.

Holders said that costs are going to hit people hard, particularly pensioners who now face a means tested benefit.

Mr Prosser added: “Our rates have gone from £55 a year to £101 a year for the same plot.

“And they’re ending subsidies for pensioners. Pensioners are going to have about £70 a year increase. That’s a hell of an increase for a pensioner.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Following a review of allotment rental charges for 2024/2025 we’ve had to take the difficult decision to increase charges due a significant increase in costs across the service.

"Previously, the Council has heavily subsidised the cost of providing an allotments service, however, due to the Council’s current financial position and the financial challenges it faces, it can no longer afford to do so at the level it has done previously. 

"The new full annual fee equates to a cost of £1.94 per week and in our view, we believe that this still represents good value for those committed to growing in Bradford."