Man of Rochdale Paul Ellison reveals motivation behind deterring fly-tippers

Paul Ellison, Man of Rochdale 2019/2020, has revealed what drives his motivation in deterring fly-tippers in Ashworth Valley.

Whilst fly-tipping is unfortunately a common blight on the environment, it’s less common to confront, or attempt to stop, those in the very act.

But Paul has now revealed that after he joined local police in trying to catch the criminals in the act, he was attacked one night four years ago.

The attack came around the time when hundreds of tyres were being dumped in the area.

Paul had driven up there one night, passing another van before parking further up the road.

Hearing a noise, he shrugged it off before being attacked with a bar.

He said: “We used to wait at locations trying to catch them, trying to get their registration plates.

“If I had to make an educated guess, I’d say we were closing in on them. We [police and Paul] knew who they were, and they knew who we were. I think they must have stopped down the road, come back on foot and then hit me with a metal or wooden bar.”

The criminals scurried off whilst a dazed Paul got back in his van and went home. After seeking medical advice, he was left with a swollen cheek and black eye.

Rather than put him off trying to stop fly-tippers, the attack only made Paul resolve to stop them.

He added: “If anything, it made me more determined.”

Local Keep Britain Tidy Litter Heroes ambassador Paul, who chairs the Norden Environmental and Economic Village Association, Friends of Norden Jubilee Park and is vice-chair of Rochdale In Bloom, is also a known figure throughout the borough for his continued and constant community work with various charities and groups.

He also chairs The Friends of Ashworth Valley, which has helped reduce incidents of fly-tipping in the area, thanks to the installation of CCTV last year.
 

Read more: Additional CCTV for Ashworth Valley as cameras kick fly-tipping to the kerbPublished: 19 March 2021