Firm owns up over rubbish skip upset (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Company team sent to clean-up after container mix-up blunder leaves tonnes of rubbish in drive of Bradford couple's Allerton Road home

11:00am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter

OOPS: Accidentally dumped waste being moved the driveway of the Vers’ home in Allerton Road at the weekend

A demolition firm blamed a driver “mix-up” for dumping tones of industrial waste on a Bradford couple’s driveway after they responded to an advert for free bonfire wood.

Refurb Assist Limited, based in Holme Wood, said the blunder was caused after a worker picked up “the wrong skip” and emptied it on the driveway of pensioners Carole and Steven Ver’s home in Allerton Road last Friday.

The Telegraph & Argus reported how the couple were left shocked when the firm delivered “dangerous” industrial waste, including suspected asbestos, loft insulation and metal piping, instead of the fire wood they were expecting.

But Anthony Fawthrop, manager of the firm, said as soon as it became aware of the mistake, it sent staff to help with the clear-up.

“The driver took the wrong skip, but we have gone up to clear it up at the first opportunity.

“We will also give them the fire wood.”

Mrs Ver, 68, said a boss of the company contacted her husband on Saturday morning and said: “It’s a mistake, we’ve brought the wrong stuff”.

Yesterday morning, two workers arrived to clear up the mess, which had blocked access to four properties on the road.

“A couple of people have arrived to clear it up and I didn’t see the look on their faces, but I think they were surprised by what they saw,” she said.

“I think they were expected to have to clear two-three bags full, but it’s more like a skip.

“When the wagon arrived on Friday the pile of waste was around 10ft tall and it was only when my husband started to dismantle it that we realised the kind of stuff that was in it.

“It looked absolutely awful.

“Our cars were blocked in, so my husband had to get up early on Saturday morning to shovel rubble out of the way.

“It’s something we shouldn’t have had to do, but we’re pleased that something’s now being done.

“I think it’s thanks to the report in the T&A that they’ve taken some action.”