Fly-tippers bury open land in mountain of waste
Local resident
Waste criminals have deposited a mountain of waste in a field in Oxfordshire.
The "ecological disaster unfolding in full view" is approximately 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) in height.
The huge pile has appeared in a open area adjacent to the River Cherwell close to Kidlington.
Elected official raised the problem in parliament, saying it was "risking an environmental emergency".
An environmental charity stated the unauthorized garbage pile was established approximately a month ago by an criminal network.
"This constitutes an environmental catastrophe taking place in full view.
"Daily that passes raises the danger of poisonous run-off reaching the aquatic network, contaminating fauna and putting at risk the health of the whole watershed.
"Regulatory bodies must respond immediately, not in extended periods, which is their usual action timeframe."
A restriction order had been implemented by the Environment Agency.
It is difficult to distinguish any individual items of waste as it looks to have been pulverized with earth blended.
A portion of the waste from the peak of the pile has fallen and is now only five feet from the waterway.
The River Cherwell is a tributary of the River Thames, which signifies it flows through Oxford before meeting the Thames.
Official recording
The official requested the government for support to clear the unauthorized dump before it triggered a inferno or was washed away into the water network.
Speaking to parliament members on recently, he stated: "Illegal operators have dumped a mountain of unlawful polymer rubbish... amounting to substantial weight, in my electoral area on a floodplain next to the River Cherwell.
"River levels are rising and temperature readings indicate that the rubbish is also warming, increasing the risk of combustion.
"Regulatory body reported it has inadequate funding for regulation, that the estimated cost of disposal is greater than the whole yearly allocation of the regional government."
Environment minister commented the administration had assumed responsibility for a struggling waste industry that had caused an "growing issue of illegal waste disposal".
She advised representatives the authority had implemented a restriction order to halt further access to the area.
In a statement, the agency confirmed it was looking into the incident and appealed for details.
It stated: "We acknowledge the public's concern about incidents like this, which is why we respond against those culpable for illegal dumping."
A recently published investigation found efforts to combat serious environmental offenses have been "extremely under-prioritised" even though the issue developing into more extensive and more sophisticated.
A parliamentary committee proposed an separate "root and branch" investigation into how "endemic" illegal dumping is addressed.
