Fly-tippers cover open land in enormous heap of rubbish

Local resident

Illegal dumpers have discarded a huge quantity of rubbish in a rural area in Oxfordshire.

The "ecological disaster unfolding in full view" is around 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) tall.

The massive heap has materialized in a field next to the River Cherwell close to Kidlington.

Parliament representative highlighted the situation in parliament, declaring it was "posing risk of an environmental disaster".

An environmental charity stated the illegal garbage pile was established around a few weeks back by an illegal operation.

"This represents an environmental catastrophe unfolding in plain sight.

"Every day that elapses raises the threat of toxic seepage entering the aquatic network, poisoning animals and threatening the wellbeing of the complete river basin.

"The Environment Agency must respond promptly, not in extended periods, which is their typical reaction time."

A restriction order had been implemented by the Environment Agency.

It is difficult to identify any specific pieces of rubbish as it appears to have been broken up with soil blended.

Some of the rubbish from the top of the pile has fallen and is now only five metres from the stream.

The River Cherwell is a branch of the River Thames, which means it runs through Oxford before connecting with the Thames.

Official recording

The representative petitioned the government for assistance to remove the unauthorized dump before it resulted in a inferno or was carried into the water network.

Addressing elected representatives on Thursday, he said: "Illegal operators have dumped a mountain of unlawful synthetic materials... amounting to substantial weight, in my district on a riverside area next to the River Cherwell.

"River levels are growing and heatmaps show that the garbage is also warming, increasing the threat of fire.

"Environmental authorities reported it has inadequate capabilities for regulation, that the anticipated expense of clearance is higher than the complete yearly allocation of the regional government."

Environment minister stated the government had taken over a struggling waste industry that had resulted in an "growing issue of unauthorized dumping".

She told parliament members the authority had implemented a prohibition notice to prevent more access to the area.

In a statement, the authority stated it was looking into the matter and requested for evidence.

It stated: "We acknowledge the community's frustration about situations like this, which is why we intervene against those responsible for environmental offenses."

A newly released report found initiatives to address serious environmental offenses have been "severely overlooked" notwithstanding the problem growing bigger and more sophisticated.

Government advisors suggested an separate "root and branch" examination into how "endemic" waste crime is dealt with.