Massive Illegal Waste Dump Branded 'Utterly Appalling' by Prime Minister
A colossal illegal waste dump, described as a 150-metre long and 12-metre high mountain of rubbish, has been discovered beside the River Cherwell in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The situation has been labelled an environmental emergency, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling the scenes "utterly appalling" during Prime Minister's Questions.
Criminal Investigation Launched as Water Laps at Waste
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey raised the alarm in the House of Commons on Wednesday 19 November 2025. He revealed that floodwater is now "lapping against the waste and carrying it into the river", posing a direct and immediate threat to the waterway. Sir Ed attributed the fly-tipping to organised criminal gangs who are "illegally dumping their waste onto our countryside and getting away with it."
In response, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that a criminal investigation is underway with specialist officers tracking down those responsible. The Prime Minister stated that the Environment Agency will use "all available powers" to ensure the perpetrators cover the substantial cost of the clean-up operation.
Environmental Risks and Systemic Failures
Calum Miller, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, provided further disturbing details. He explained that recent heavy rainfall from Storm Claudia has worsened the crisis, pushing the waste closer to the River Cherwell, which eventually flows through Oxford and into the Thames.
Mr Miller outlined three major environmental risks:
- Waste being washed directly into the waterways.
- Rainwater seeping through the rubbish and carrying toxins into the river.
- The danger of decomposing chemicals presenting a fire risk.
The MP expressed grave concerns about the resources available to tackle the problem, noting that the cost of removal is estimated to exceed the entire annual budget of the local council, which is around £25 million. He believes the Environment Agency was first made aware of the issue as far back as July, highlighting a "bigger systemic problem around the country."
In defence, Anna Burns, the Environment Agency's director for the Thames area, stated that "most of the tipping happened before we were aware of it" but assured that the agency is now "laser focused" on its criminal investigation and is pursuing a number of leads.
