Superfly Guys

Kilner Bank is an obvious feature to anyone who visits the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield. The forested hill rises steeply from directly behind the Stadium itself and from the top affords extensive views of the town. Unfortunately Kilner Bank is also obvious to some residents of the Rawthorpe estate, which sits atop the hill, as a convenient spot to fly tip. It appears that some local people, on purchasing a new sofa, TV, mattress, fridge, or other consumer durable find it appropriate (and less hassle) to heave their old and now unwanted item over the fence at the top of the bank and leave it to rot, than to dispose of it in a more responsible manner.

The degree of fly tipping has become something of an issue, being both dangerous to wildlife and of course very unsightly. If left untackled the problem can also become self-perpetuating with the junk attracting more of the same, until Kilner Bank becomes buried under an ever increasing avalanche of unwanted household items. Consequently the housing manager for Rawthorpe estate, Sharon Doherty called on GoodGym Huddersfield to help out with a fly tip clean up, and we were of course only too happy to oblige.

A total of 5 GoodGymmers met at the Stadium, ready and willing for the run and the task ahead. Fortunately the damp conditions (the first wet run since GoodGym Huddersfield commenced in September) did little to dampen enthusiasm and we were soon warmed up and off running. The close proximity of Kilner Bank meant this week’s run would be a short one, a brisk trot of just 2K (although some said it was longer!) had us up to the meeting point at Rawthorpe Community Centre to meet Sharon. Following a few words from Sharon to ensure we were all prepared for the task ahead and could perform it safely GoodGym were let loose to tackle the tipping.

Some of the fly tipping had been done by residents heaving unwanted items over the estate’s boundary fence and onto Kilner Bank beyond, and other junk had simply been dumped at various spots around the estate. Helpfully Sharon had been busy producing hand written notes identifying the locations of where the worst of the tipping had taken place, and the GoodGymmers divided into two teams to hunt out the offending rubbish.

It wasn’t long before a vast array of fly tipped items were being collected and relocated in to piles by the sides of the road, everything from TV’s and mattresses to sofas and old computers. One of the more interesting items collected was large bag of trainers, although unfortunately it didn’t contain any decent running shoes (I checked!). It was good to see GoodGymmers working together to manhandle the largest items over the fence and deposit them by the road where they would be removed by the Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing caretaking team the following day.

The lifting, heaving and carrying certainly kept the group warm and despite the cold, damp conditions, I don’t think any of us chilly. After nearly an hour of very productive rubbish removal we were done and it was time for the short run back down Bradley Mills Lane back to the Stadium. We said our goodbyes to Sharon set off happy in the knowledge that once again GoodGym Huddersfield’s efforts had improved our local environment.

Thanks to all who helped out with tonight’s task, it certainly seemed to be one of the most popular jobs we have done to date. Let’s hope the Rawthorpe residents appreciate our efforts and think twice before slinging their sagging sofas and mouldy mattresses over the fence in the future. Yet another good job done by GoodGym Huddersfield, you are all truly Superfly Guys.