hello! I'm a journalism student at the University of Sheffield and am doing a story on the Parkwood Springs tip and the recent health survey into the effects of living close to the tip....I understand there was a bit of public uproar about it, can anyone give me their opinion? (the article isn't for publication, just for my uni work) thanks!

All I can say is that in the summer, the newish housing estate where the old college used to stand, stinks to high hell from the tip! Its like an acidburn smell, more like sulphur.

My mate lived there for 2 years and couldn't stand it any longer! Loads of those new houses were infested with cockroaches too which it was believed, came from the tip!

There is a high incidence of cancer but there is an equally high incidence of smokers.

Hi there, I lived there until I left home. My mum and dad still live there, right on the edge of the estate. I never noticed a smell and haven't in the last 5 years. As for bugs hanging around the house... never seen any of those!
In my opinion alot of the people complaining about the smell are the people that can't afford to live in one of the nice new houses and are just jealous.
If I could afford to go back and live there I would, I don't see the "smelly tip" putting buyers off, the houses go within a couple of weeks!
If you need any questions answering for your study let me know.

Back in 98/99 i used to work on parkwood rd adjacent to the entrance to the tip. What used to really concern me were the ammount of tipper lorries from Matlock Transport Ltd, who took waste to Parkwood displaying the white TOXIC(skull and crossbone) sign on the lorries.
After they had tipped the waste the lorries would then park up on Parwood Rd, whilst the driver dressed in white overalls and face mask/respirator, would then proceed to brush out the remaining debris in the tipper onto Parkwood Rd, this would happen several times on a daily basis.
I was really concerned as to what was being dumped up there (in the centre of a city) and this waste covering Parkwood Rd, and no doubt finding its way into the drains etc.
I contacted the Environment Agency, and decided to take some photographs (much to the annoyance of one of the MTL drivers), showing what was happening.
I never heard anything again from the Environmental Agency and sent the photos too. So i have often followed the recent events and feel a lot has been covered up. No doubt everything will come to light in the future when the damage has been done.

I just moved from that area in march this year and my house was back of the tip.And yes every year you get a smell of a sickly sweet smell.I was there for over 8years and im glad i moved now,Lot of people said they was sick over it and the hospital sent forms out to people to fill in if anyone had problems.you could smell it a far way in most places in shirecliffe and it still happens in the summer time.
And JennyB it had nothing to do with jelousy i lived at the side of the new houses and you can still smell it from time to time in the area.and to be honest i loved the area but i will never go back now i know my sister who lives in the new house estate and herself can not wait to leave and got her house up for sale.

thanks very much for all your replies, all of which are very helpful! i hope its okay if i contact some of you to get some more opinions!

you need to speak to the Shirecliffe Tenants Group - they'll give you all you need to know - take a geiger counter to the site and watch the results.

I lived at the side of Shirecliffe College for 7 years and my Mum and Dad still live there.
They have never had any problems with cockroaches but when I go up to visit in the summer the smell can be really bad. Must admit thought that I've not noticed it much this summer(did we have one)?

Originally posted by Space
All I can say is that in the summer, the newish housing estate where the old college used to stand, stinks to high hell from the tip! Its like an acidburn smell, more like sulphur.

Erm no - on the odd day it does smell, which is a sweet sickly smell, not bad actually, a quick phone call to the EA and its sorted within the hour. To be honest the smell is to be expected.

My mate lived there for 2 years and couldn't stand it any longer! Loads of those new houses were infested with cockroaches too which it was believed, came from the tip! [/B]

Loads? I've been here 4 years and never heard of one! Do you have house numbers etc or is it just hearsay?

To be honest the smell is to be expected. We live near a landfill site FFS! A lot of the people who complain and have since left the area bought the house without doing their research. Some even claim they didnt know it was there!! WTF, its been there years, did they not look round the area when they were buying? Its not hard to miss.

I'm from Hillsborough so knew what I was buying into. All in all its been the best decision of my life, I love it here. My house is fantastic (come and have a look!), is worth about 200k and the fact that there is a landfill site a couple of hundred metres isnt all that noticable. I only get a reality check when I take the dog for a walk and can see it.

Health wise, sure I have a persistant cough and sinus problems but then I always have, possibly due to smoking, maybe from the tip. Who knows. The smoking, hopefully stops in the New Year so I'll update this bit in a years time when I have got rid of all the crap in my system!

Also dont forget, if the wind is blowing towards town, most Sheffielders get a blast at some point or other.

Originally posted by dieselbabe
my sister who lives in the new house estate and herself can not wait to leave and got her house up for sale.

Not the couple that got burgled a few months back? Could that have had anything to do with it?

Originally posted by coopster1974
Erm no - on the odd day it does smell, which is a sweet sickly smell, not bad actually

Not bad??? It's an absolutely foul stench!!!
I think you might just be getting used to it?

As for the cockroaches, some houses were definately infested with them a few years back and yes, I do have house numbers which I don't wish to give out as the couples are going to be putting their houses up for sale within the next 7 months on that estate. The cockroach problem seems to have been sorted though because last summer, there were none.
As for you not hearing anything about it, its not exactly something people wish to brag about.

Have you heard anything about a section of the 3 bed houses that maybe coming up for rent?

On the bright side, there are plans for landscaping and turning it into a wildlife-friendly public space in the future - don't know when - so the houses backing on to it will, eventually, have a very pleasant outlook and a conservation area within a stone's throw.

This info is from a council newsletter that was delivered to some houses about a year ago.

Don't hold your breath (unless you have to) though.

Originally posted by JennyB
In my opinion alot of the people complaining about the smell are the people that can't afford to live in one of the nice new houses and are just jealous.
know.

What a ridiculous thing to say

Originally posted by saxon51
On the bright side, there are plans for landscaping and turning it into a wildlife-friendly public space in the future - don't know when - so the houses backing on to it will, eventually, have a very pleasant outlook and a conservation area within a stone's throw.

This info is from a council newsletter that was delivered to some houses about a year ago.

Don't hold your breath (unless you have to) though.
Yeah if you can wait for a 100 yrs or more.

Originally posted by coopster1974
Not the couple that got burgled a few months back? Could that have had anything to do with it?

No it defo not them.I lived also on standish road for over 3ys and on boynton road for 5ys.So i know what im talking about hear.

Originally posted by Space

Have you heard anything about a section of the 3 bed houses that maybe coming up for rent?

A section? Can only think of 2 next to each other. And as you are probably aware, quite a few are beig rented already.

The biggest problem up here at the moment is the motorbikers.

An interesting fact - we had a policeman here a while back and he was saying that before he was a plod he was a planning student and one of his projects was to design this estate. His plan won. During his studies he found out that one of the biggest landfills, now reclaimed is Greystones! Obviously from a while back of course.

Makes you wonder whether the hills in Sheffield are actually Roman age garbage!

i live in norwood not far from parkwood tip and the smell is awful mostly at the weekend but sometimes in the week you get the strongest smell of burning plastic its gut wrenching to point of having to close all the windows also you cant tell me that the burners they have there burning off all the crap doesn't
have any affect on anybody's health come on get real the smell is disgusting if theres any health authority people out there reading this come out after 12 at midnight and take your readings then and you'll find its stronger at night than it is during the day also whats with the spray on the fences on parkwood come on thats not so innocent this is takin the **** putting people's rubbish over peoples health shame on you sheffield council your takin the **** :loopy:

I would have thought that norwood would be a comparative safe area from the smell if there is one methinks your gripe does fall on deaf ears you are only ranting for a reason .i.e. 1st post