A concerned resident has found the alleged continued presence of those linked to a troublesome, illegal waste site in a north Derbyshire village to be worrying and allegedly ‘intimidating’.
North East Derbyshire District Council enforcement officers originally shut down two illegal waste sites at two north Derbyshire villages, West Handley and Ridegway, with court granted site Closure Orders in September, 2023, and they were imposed for a maximum of three months, and the council also had civil injunctions imposed on two connected individuals to ban them from West Handley.
However, a worried resident has spoken out on behalf of concerned West Handley villagers that some issues have allegedly still not been fully resolved with claims that someone linked to the site is continuing to occupy the land, that villagers still feel intimidated by an alleged presence of some linked with the site, and that there appears to have been no monitoring or further action taken by the council or police.
The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “He has to stop using the site, clear skips and any machinery to do with the skip hire business.
“Within three months he has to clear the caravan he’s been living in and by May the site has to be cleared.
“The site is supposed to be monitored but we have not seen police or council yet doing that.”
NE Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire Constabulary secured the two Closure Orders in September, 2023, relating to the two illegal waste sites in West Handley and Ridgeway following more than a year of reports of anti-social behaviour problems including intimidation, criminal damage and noise nuisance.
The additional council civil injunctions against two particular individuals also meant these two people were banned from West Handley for 12 months after they had been engaged in anti-social behaviour.
A power of arrest was also attached to this exclusion so if any individual breached the terms of their ban the police could arrest them and they could be committed to prison for up to two years.
In addition, a further injunction order and power of arrest was also made in respect of a third individual who is, however, still allowed to enter the village, according to NE Derbyshire District Council.
The council had originally issued public notices stating it had carried out the seizure of six vehicles in August, 2023, at the site of the former Pople Nursery, on Main Road, in West Handley, between New Whittington, in Chesterfield, and the Marsh Lane area.
It also carried out further enforcement action seizing six more vehicles from an address on High Lane, Ridgeway, Derbyshire, under the same waste control regulations on the same day in August, 2023.
Some suspect enforcement may have been delayed after the Planning Inspectorate had subsequently looked into the matter, but residents believe the occupants have now been given four months, until May, to clear the site of skips and machinery but the worried villager claims there is no evidence this process has begun.
However, the council has explained that a Planning Inspector’s decision was only received on the January 9, 2024, and arrangements to monitor compliance with the notice have already been put in place.
Both the council and Derbyshire Constabulary also insist the site is being monitored despite claims by the concerned resident that there appears to have been no sign of any council or police visits.
The resident also says villagers are “still living with intimidation and in fear” with cars and vans allegedly linked to the site still being parked around West Handley and those associated with the site have allegedly been walking a big dog near to the village.
It is also alleged the site is still not being cleared and that residents cannot understand how enforcement action has officially been agreed while some who have been linked to the site allegedly still have a presence in West Handley.
A NE Derbyshire District Council spokesperson said: “The council and partners take matters in this case very seriously [and] are in regular contact with the residents over the concerns they raise about enforcement and requesting the evidence to support the allegations of breaches.
“Regular visits in relation to the injunctions are being carried out in order to check the current position and monitor compliance. Residents would not necessarily be aware of them.”
The council spokesperson added: “It has been explained to residents that any allegations of a breach would need to be backed up with evidence. Then, partners can assess the evidence and any legal powers available to take appropriate and reasonable action.
“The council served enforcement notices in a variety of ways including via post, email and in person using bailiff services. Enforcement action was not hampered in any way by the delivery of documents or service of notices.”
NE Derbyshire District Council Leader, Cllr Nigel Barker, has stated that the council has worked closely with police and it has made a commitment as an administration to come down hard on those participating in anti-social behaviour.
A Derbyshire police spokesperson said: “Since action was taken last year by the force, in conjunction with North East Derbyshire District Council, there has been continued monitoring of the site to ensure the court order relating to individuals accessing the site are adhered to.
“One of those involved in the banning order has been taken to court for an alleged breach, however, the evidence that was provided did not reach the threshold for conviction.
“We continue to receive reports of breaches and we would urge anyone with information, in particular CCTV, mobile footage, or dashcam, to get in touch with the force.
“The site, and the wider village, forms part of the regular patrol strategy and there are regular checks ongoing.
“The local policing team has several competing priorities, and these must be balanced based on the risk that they pose and the other operational demands on the finite resources that the force has to use on a day-to-day basis.
“We will continue to work with all those involved in this situation and we would urge anyone with reports about legal breaches of the orders to contact us promptly to allow the best possible collection of evidence for a positive prosecution.”
Derbyshire police had stated prior to the closure orders that it understands the impact these types of reported behaviour can have on communities and it has worked with the council to address concerns and ensure safety.
NE Derbyshire MP Lee Rowley and Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster have all been asked for updates relating to the latest claims and concerns at West Handley.
Mr Rowley has previously stated that he had been working with councillors to address the issues in West Handley prior to the closure orders.
