The ‘concrete volcano’ dumped off a footpath in Newhey

Friday, 16 May 2025 15:53

By George Lythgoe

A ‘concrete volcano’ has appeared in a picturesque area of Newhey – leaving locals fuming.

The village on the edge of the Rochdale borough is home to stunning views of the Pennines. But Coun Andy Kelly was left angered when a routine litter pick around the Piethorne Brook led to the discovery of the concrete monstrosity.

Just to the side of the entrance to a popular footpath off Huddersfield Road, leading to a network of reservoirs and the Piethorne Valley, is what the local councillor described as a 20ft ‘concrete volcano’.

The group of litter pickers were actually there to shift lots of plastic out of the nearby river, but found more than they bargained for.

“There must be about three wagon mixtures of concrete on the hillside,” the Milnrow and Newhey representative said. “It’s like whoever did it has come back from a job and thought they’d pour it down the hill.

“It looks like a concrete volcano. It’s at least 20ft across and even higher in length.”

Coun Kelly regarded the mess as ‘waste dumping’ and has called for a full investigation into the matter to catch the culprits. He pointed out that concrete is a toxic material that kills plant life and insects it comes into contact with.

“This should be discouraged and I hope this will be investigated fully. Those responsible should be told to clean it up.

“It really makes my blood boil to see this sort of thing.”

Rochdale Borough Council has confirmed this matter has been reported to them and will be looked into.