A man has been arrested following the discovery of a vast, illegally dumped mountain of waste measuring 150 metres in length beside a major Oxfordshire road and perilously close to a protected river.
Environmental Outrage in Kidlington
A 39-year-old man from the Guildford area is currently being questioned by Environment Agency officers in connection with this major fly-tipping incident. The enormous pile of rubbish was dumped in a field alongside the A34, near the River Cherwell in Kidlington, sparking significant environmental and community concern.
Timeline of a Waste Crisis
The scale of the problem first came to public attention after campaigners shared shocking images of the waste mountain. However, suspicions about illegal activity on the 1.2-hectare (3-acre) site were initially raised during the summer.
In July, the Environment Agency issued a cease and desist letter to the landowner. Despite this intervention, satellite imagery confirms that the massive dumping operation occurred sometime in September. The EA was granted a court order to close the site on 23 October after officers observed continued activity.
Political Pressure and Environmental Peril
The issue has escalated to parliamentary level, with local MP Calum Miller demanding urgent government action to clear the dump before it's too late for the River Cherwell. The criminal investigation is being led by the Environment Agency, which is working with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Anna Burns, the Environment Agency's area director for the Thames, stated: "The appalling illegal waste dump in Kidlington has rightly provoked outrage over the potential consequences for the community and environment." She confirmed that officials are working "round the clock" to bring perpetrators to justice.
Last week, the agency visited the field and agreed on a plan to deploy additional protective barriers. These measures are deemed critical to prevent waste from polluting the River Cherwell during periods of heavy rainfall or flooding, offering a vital layer of protection for the local ecosystem while the complex investigation and eventual cleanup proceed.
