Neighbours' relief at Brierley Hill rubbish mountain clean-up
For years they have lived in the shadow of an industrial waste mound – but this week the end to their nightmare looks finally to be in sight.
Work has started to prepare the removal of the pile of rubbish from a compound in Moor Street in Brierley Hill, which was occupied by Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).
The rubbish pile caused uproar when it rose to 40 feet high.
It resulted in High Court action with company director Robert McNaughton jailed for failing to remove it.
But on Monday contractors moved on to the site to begin the initial stages of clearance before work gets under way to get rid of the rubbish.
Linda Jones, who lives not far from the mound on Moor Street, said that residents had become used to seeing it.
She added: "It has been a eyesore for what seems like forever. But you just get used to it being there.
"It will be good to see it gone but I suppose they will need to be careful in what they uncover."
Geoff Clarke said the removal of the rubbish will be a 'distinct improvement' to the area.
He said: "It has been a long-time coming – almost six years in fact.
"But to now finally see that something will be done about this is great news.
"Dudley Council has already given approval for houses to be built on the site as well, so it will be a distinct improvement once the rubbish is out the way. At times it felt like it had come to a standstill. Even greenery has been growing out of the mound that made it look like a mountain.
"I know that everyone will be pleased that the clearance is finally taking place, but it is concerning what will be found underneath."
Dean Rutter, from Ammanford Limited South Wales, who are the contractors behind setting the site up before its clearance, said: "We are now getting the signs into place and today have put the night watchman's cabin and office up.
"100 per cent the work to clear the site will be getting underway this week.
"We will be having machinery coming in get it as clear as possible.
But concerns have been raised about what could be underneath. Mr Rutter, who also lives near to the site, added: "It will takes weeks to fully clear but concerns are with what could be underneath it.
"It is visible that skips and all sorts are already sticking out of the mound.
"But really it should never have got in that state in the first place – it should have been reduced a lot sooner down the line."
