Fury as Worksop firm goes bust leaving behind pile of '˜rotting' rubbish

Rotting waste abandoned after a Worksop recycling plant went into liquidation could cost up to £1 million to remove, it has been claimed.
Tonnes of Recycling waste Sandy Lane Worksop.Tonnes of Recycling waste Sandy Lane Worksop.
Tonnes of Recycling waste Sandy Lane Worksop.

A “revolting stench”, flies and rats are among the issues plaguing nearby residents and workers after Trent Valley Recycling vacated its Sandy Lane site in late October, leaving behind the waste pile.

The site, which opened five years ago, is also being investigated by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, as it is unmonitored and believed to pose a fire risk.

It is also affecting Worksop Town FC fans, who have said there is “a smell” at the club’s nearby Sandy Lane ground.

Steve Storey, who owns Fabco engineering systems, on Sandy Lane industrial estate, said the site had created “a nightmare” for nearby firms.

He said: “It has caused nothing but trouble for us for the past five years.

“Since its opening, we’ve had to deal with the smell of the waste, along with flies, rats and dust clouds coming into the workshop.

“And if it catches fire, nobody at the industrial estate would be able to come to work.

“The nearby train line would close, Tesco on Gateford Road would suffer – it could cause chaos.

“I don’t doubt the need for recycling centres, but this one needs relocating urgently.”

One Sandy Lane resident, who declined to be named, said living near the waste has led to concerns for the health of her one-year-old son. The woman, who has lived in the area for two years, said: “We have up to 12 flies in the house at a time and I constantly find myself bleaching things.

“I’m worried what kind of waste it actually is and what we must be breathing in.”

John Mann, Bassetlaw MP, has called for action after receiving numerous complaints about the site.

He said: “The people responsible for this should be held to account.

“The waste needs removing, but I have heard it will cost about £1m to carry this out.”

Nottinghamshire County Council said it was “monitoring the situation closely”, but was not responsible for the removal of the waste, which now lies in the hands of the Environment Agency.

Trent Valley Recycling could not be reached.