A skip hire firm at the centre of many complaints is facing legal action from the council.

Hunter Group, who have previously come under fire for pollution, smells and safety issues, have been a source of irritation to Kirklees Council and to local residents.

But now the authority have announced they are set to take the Lockwood firm to court following “numerous complaints” from the public.

The Queens Mill Lane site has been criticised for exuding unpleasant smells, while residents have complained the company will not collect filled and festering skips.

Hunter Group skip hire, Queen's Mill Road, Huddersfield.

The Examiner can also reveal that the company removed fencing from the site last month, leaving it accessible to children, while vehicles were brought onto a nearby footpath churning it up.

Kirklees officials say they have been working with the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency who found a number of violations.

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Concerns raised included excessive noise disturbance, unauthorised waste storage, planning breaches and illegal storage of skips.

A Kirklees spokesperson said: “The council have already used both informal and formal action against the company but they have continued to breach legislation.

Reporter Susie Beever recaps the story so far

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“Due to the serious nature of the violations, and the company’s continued failure to respond to the enforcement action taken to date, the council is making an application to the court.”

The move will see permission for an order from the courts to restrain the firm breaching planning and environmental laws.

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If the application to the magistrates is successful, Hunter Group would be forced to to stop working on all but a small part of the site within hours stipulated on their existing planning permission.

The news was welcomed by Clr Andrew Cooper, Green Party councillor for Newsome.

'Mountain' of rubbish at Hunter Group, Queens Mill Road, Lockwood

He said: “I welcome this move. We’ve been pushing for it for some time and are pleased it’s being taken.

“The company needs to get its act together and act in a manner which respects the environment.”

Clr Steve Hall, Cabinet Member for Planning, added: “Our officers have been working with Hunter Group for quite some time. But despite continued efforts using our own enforcement powers they have failed to comply with the legislation.”

The Examiner spoke to an employee at Hunter Group who said they were unaware of the action being taken.