Darlington residents alarmed by ongoing meat dumping

Meat Dumping Incidents in Whinfield Community Garden

Large quantities of meat have been dumped in and around the Whinfield community garden, located between Caithness Road and Annandale, over the last year. Piles of chicken wings, fish guts, and even sausage rolls have reportedly appeared there in the last 12 months.

Almost a year after the first pile of meat was found, a stack of Christmas dinner leftovers was discovered. Councillor Jamie Bartch stated, “The latest pile, which was found by a resident, looks like leftovers from someone’s Christmas dinner.” He added, “The meat found dumped near the community garden is just an odd mix of stuff, but it is all cooked meat this time, unlike previous instances.”

He expressed concern, saying, “The main concern is that dogs or children could come into contact with it. It’s unhygienic and unpleasant for anyone walking in the area.” Previous incidents included multiple piles of meat, including what Cllr Bartch described as “nearly a whole pig,” and in one case, more than 100 raw chicken wings. This has left families worried that children or pets could come into contact with contaminated food.

Last week, similar incidents were reported in another Darlington neighborhood, where food was repeatedly found in the Harrowgate Hill area. Cllr Bartch believes that whoever is responsible is not acting maliciously, but the ongoing problem has become a real concern for residents. He said, “I genuinely believe whoever is doing this is just trying to feed animals. I don’t think there’s anything malicious, but it’s frustrating because the problem keeps happening despite our warnings and community posts.”

The councillor noted that Darlington Borough Council has responded to previous reports, but the food often disappears before staff arrive to clear it, either eaten by animals or removed by others. He mentioned, “Leaflets have been delivered to every house, and our Facebook posts reach many in the community, but whoever is responsible is still doing it. It’s an ongoing issue, and it’s upsetting for everyone, especially families and dog walkers.”

Anyone with information on who is responsible is urged to contact Darlington Borough Council.