Residents in Rotherham fed up of fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour and rats plaguing community

Residents in Rotherham say they are fed up with fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour plaguing their neighbourhood.

Fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour have been reported issues for over a decade in Eastwood.

On Facebook, residents have formed a group called ‘How clean is Eastwood,’ which reports daily on the rubbish that is being thrown on their streets.

Resident Jamie Kirk, aged 46, said: “What a mess we’re living in, 15 years and counting and it’s still not sorted.

“What are the council doing about it? A complete lack of enforcement. It’s like you’re knocking your head against a brick wall.”

A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) aimed at targeting anti-social behaviour was introduced by Rotherham Council in 2019, renewed in 2022, and will last until 2028.

Despite threats of fines and criminal convictions, the fly-tipping continues to blight the streets of Eastwood.

Born and raised in Eastwood, Andrew Willshaw, 46, said: “I’ve personally seen full houses, beds, mattresses, old TVs just been thrown out at the front doors and back doors.

“I’d say 80 per cent is residents, but because Eastwood is known for fly-tipping, now we’ve got out-of-towners coming in and dumping,” he said.

On the streets and paths, residents claim they are met with rodent carcasses.

“Eastwood is plagued with rats. They’re not afraid to come out in the day either,” Andrew said.

Despite sending countless emails to the council, he said he hasn’t seen any change.

“There’s just not enough people in the council to monitor it. All we get from the council is that ‘you need to catch them’.

“There’s a group now that just wants to make the area better, so we’re walking around trying to catch people fly-tipping in the act.”

Drug taking, public drinking and music playing until the early hours of the morning are also disturbing residents.

“You see 30 people on a street corner or in the park with a boombox drinking vodka. They line shots up on a bench,” said Andrew/

“Police say to ring the council. I’ve rung everyone of them and they’re bouncing it back.”

Another resident said: “It’s intimidating for everybody. Not everybody feels safe around all these people because you don’t know what they could be like.”

Another man, who wished to remain anonymous and has lived in Eastwood since the 1990s, said: “Rodents, diseases, environmental health issues. We’re more worried about the environmental health issues.

“I’m thinking ‘let’s sell up and move out’, but we shouldn’t be leaving our houses because of this,” he said.

“We need a solution to prevent this. We can’t keep giving liberties out anymore that the council will ‘just pick the rubbish up’.

Andrew Bramidge, executive director of regeneration and environment at Rotherham Council said: “We want all parts of the borough to be clean and welcoming. Unfortunately, too many people are not respecting the rules in the Eastwood area, and blighting it for everyone else.

“The council is required to clear fly-tipping and our waste team visits areas across the borough, including Eastwood, to clear litter bins, litter pick, and road sweep on a regular basis and following reports from local residents.

“Over the last twelve months from Eastwood fly-tipping investigations, we have issued 50 fly-tipping warning letters, issued nine Fixed Penalty Notices and secured three court convictions in relation to offences, but we appreciate that there is much more to be done.”