We live in ‘real Happy Valley town’ but it’s nothing like the show – it’s a rubbish-filled dump with rats as big as CATS
LOCALS living in the town Happy Valley is based on say it’s nothing like the show – they claim it’s a rubbish-filled dump with “rats as big as cats”.
The award-winning series was not only filmed in the West Yorkshire town, but based on a version of it, too.
However, one Halifax business owner says mountains of rubbish sit just yards from where the BBC hit was shot.
And not only is it an eyesore, it’s said to attract and feed giant rats which keep growing in size.
Some business owners claim they can’t even leave their doors open because of the “cat-sized” rodents.
Others are just sick of their customers having to walk past the tower of trash.
Jo Lewis, 60, is one of those people – and claims the council won’t do a thing.
The salon owner told The Sun Online: “Happy Valley has put Halifax in the spotlight – they filmed right around the corner from here.
“And yet we’ve got this mountain of junk that the council will do nothing about.
“The amount of rats around here is phenomenal. They’re as big as cats because they’re feasting on all the rubbish.
“Restaurants can’t keep their doors open because the rats just roam around. There were two crows outside last week munching on a rat.
“It’s horrendous – we’ve got a nice clientele walking through the door and they’ve got to pass all this junk.”
A rotting stench wafts from the discarded waste, which is said to have been getting taller over the last three years.
Jo claimed it had also been deemed a fire hazard.
But council bosses have shrugged their shoulders in response to pleas to clean up the mess – claiming the land is not theirs.
The 60-year-old, who co-owns Anthony James hair salon, added: “It has been a saga for a long time – more than three years now.
“After Covid, when we came back after lockdown, the building on the other side of the courtyard was let out as 11 flats.
“But the council didn’t give them any bins to discard their rubbish and the problem has just got worse and worse.
“The council still won’t do anything. They won’t accept responsibility.”
The amount of rats around here is phenomenal. They’re as big as cats because they’re feasting on all the rubbish.
Jo Lewis
Photos show mounds of black bin liners containing rotting food and used nappies overflowing from bins.
Broken electricals, kids’ toys and discarded building materials lie abandoned in what was once a cared-for courtyard.
Jo continued: “But it’s a health hazard and a fire hazard so surely there is an obligation on them to do something.
“Everyone used to look after the space – we used to have 11 cars down there at one point. Now it’s just a dumping ground.
“Who would want this outside their business?”
Calderdale Council said in a statement: “We’re aware of the issue with waste in the courtyard off Central Street in Halifax and have been working with the commercial premises in the area and housing associations with properties surrounding this yard, to ensure that they have adequate bins and collections in place.
“We take environmental health concerns and our fire safety responsibilities seriously and when poor waste management and fly tipping is on private land, we aim to work with the owners to ensure the issue is resolved.
“The courtyard area off Central Street has multiple owners who all own a small part of the yard. This makes enforcing clearance of the area very difficult.
“We will continue to work with our partners to increase education around waste management and will be utilising cameras in the area as a deterrent for fly-tipping.
“We do all we can to tackle the issue of fly-tipping and seek to identify evidence within any rubbish found. Where evidence is found, the Council won’t hesitate to prosecute those responsible.”