Residents in Havering are expressing outrage and frustration as a massive, perennially burning rubbish dump has been excluded from a major government clean-up initiative. The controversial site, located at Arnolds Field in Launders Lane, has caught fire more than 100 times since 2019, sending acrid smoke billowing into nearby homes and causing reports of stinging eyes and persistent coughs among locals.
Government Clean-Up Plan Ignores Havering Site
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced plans to tackle illegal waste sites in Wigan, Sheffield, Lancashire, and Oxfordshire, describing this crackdown on 'waste criminals' as the largest yet. However, Havering Council says it has been completely overlooked in this scheme, despite the severe environmental and health impacts of the dump in their borough.
Council leader Ray Morgon has written a strongly worded letter to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, demanding that Arnolds Field be included in the clean-up efforts. He expressed deep disappointment at what he called a significant oversight, given the scale of the problem.
Scale of the Problem Revealed
Through a Freedom of Information request to the Environment Agency, it was revealed that between 30,000 and 50,000 cubic metres of illegal waste had been dumped at Arnolds Field from 2011 until 2014. Morgon estimates this equates to approximately 50,000 tonnes of waste, based on the weight of dry and compacted soil.
"Consequently, it looks like what was dumped on Arnolds Field is more than the total of the 'three of the worst' that Defra is providing funding for and more than double the volume of waste in the Oxfordshire site," Morgon wrote in his letter.
Residents Suffer Health Impacts
Local residents have endured years of fires and smoke, particularly during summer months when heat causes the illegal waste to combust. The resulting smoke has led to numerous health complaints, including respiratory issues and eye irritation.
"Local residents have suffered from years of fires and smoke as the illegal waste combusts in the summer months due to the heat," Morgon emphasized in his correspondence with the Environment Secretary.
Financial and Ownership Complications
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Arnolds Field is privately-owned land. Despite the current landowner's inaction, Havering Council has been exploring funding solutions to address the problem, even as the council itself is receiving a £77 million government loan for exceptional financial support to balance its budget.
Morgon called for an urgent meeting to discuss rectifying what he termed an oversight and securing funding for the clean-up of Launders Lane so residents no longer suffer.
Government Response and New Powers
Defra has stated that it selected high-risk illegal waste sites based on their environmental risk, operational risk, and community impact. The department maintains that all remaining sites continue to be tackled through enforcement, restriction notices, permit action, and disruption measures.
As part of a £45 million budget boost announced this week, Defra will receive "new police-style powers" to combat waste crime. These measures include:
- Fly-tippers receiving points on their driving licences
- Illegal waste operators being named and shamed by the Environment Agency
- Waste criminals being forced to join clean-up squads and pay for clearing illegal waste sites
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds stated: "Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment and economy for too long. This action plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences."
She added: "We will give enforcement officers new police-style powers to bring offenders to justice."
The exclusion of Havering's burning rubbish dump from this comprehensive clean-up plan has left residents questioning the criteria used for site selection and demanding immediate action to address the ongoing health and environmental hazards in their community.
