Fly-tipping at hospital 'putting lives at risk'

Fly-tipping near a hospital helipad is "potentially putting lives at risk", according to a councillor.

Branches, mattresses, children's toys and a suitcase have been dumped on the grounds of Airedale Hospital in Bradford and is being investigated by the council.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Bradford to announce a crackdown on fly-tipping. He said fines would increase from £300 to £5,000 and offenders could be given up to nine points on their driving licence.

Councillor George Buckley said he was alerted to the "infuriating" illegal dumping at the hospital in Steeton by local residents and had raised it with Bradford Council.

"It is egregious that this has taken place just metres from the helipad for Airedale Hospital, potentially putting lives at risk.

"Now the waste will have to be cleaned up by the hospital when frankly I am sure they have far better things they would like to spend their budget on," he said.

Access to the field is along Lyon Road Bridleway – a popular route with walkers and runners, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Raph Cohn said he would be pushing to reopen local tips, such as the Sugden End Household Waste Recycling Centre, which closed in April 2024.

"We all have a duty to make sure our streets and countryside don't become dumping grounds for rubbish," he said.

Bradford Council's Reform Leadership said it was reviewing a decision by the former Labour leadership of the authority to close the Sugden End HWRC in Cross Roads as part of cost-cutting measures.

AGH Solutions, which manages the hospital's estate, said it was working with West Yorkshire Police and the Environment Agency to investigate the fly-tipping.

Director of Operations Jon Wilson said: "Maintaining safe access to this area is vital, both for patients arriving by air ambulance and for the local community who use and live near the site."

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