Critical incident declared in Oxfordshire after illegal flytipping incident
The illegal fly dumping site near the River Cherwell in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, has been designated a “critical incident” by the Environment Agency (EA).
EA’s chief executive said the declaration meant the agency was “laser focused on finding those responsible and ensuring they face the full force of the law”.
The Prime Minister has previously said he was appalled by the “disgusting” mountain of waste and wanted it cleared up as quickly as possible.
Sir Keir Starmer backed EA’s criminal investigation into the large fly tip found at a site alongside the A34 in Kidlington and called on the regulator to “use all its powers to continue the clean-up of the site”.
The EA deployed additional officers to manage the area and progress its investigation, called Operation Nation, which followed “several lines of inquiry”.
Teams agreed on a plan to erect additional barriers to minimize waste being carried into the river in the event of rain or flooding.
Drone footage showed the pile of rubbish, which the EA described as shredded household and commercial waste such as paper, cardboard and plastic, stretching 150 meters across the field, while concerns about pollution in the nearby river were also raised.
The Environment Secretary met EA chief executive Philip Duffy on Thursday to discuss the multi-agency response.
In a statement on Friday, Emma Reynolds said: “The appalling amount of illegal waste being dumped in Kidlington is disgraceful and I know how strongly local people feel about this area.
“I have instructed the Environment Agency to take decisive action to reduce the risk of environmental damage and I am pleased that they have now installed additional barriers to prevent contamination of the Cherwell.
“I am regularly kept informed of the ongoing investigation and want to see justice served for this heinous crime.”
The EA said a temporary barrier – a floating barrier used to contain debris above water – was already in place.
He added that there was no evidence of “waste dumping” yet.
The EA stressed that it had worked “swiftly and decisively” since first visiting the site in July, first obtaining a cease and desist order against the landowner and then obtaining a court order to close the site following further illegal dumping in October.
Mr Duffy said on Friday: “Illegal tipping in Kidlington is absolutely disgusting and I share the local community’s disgust at this case of environmental vandalism.”
In an interview with BBC South Today, Sir Keir was asked about the Cherwell waste dump at a school breakfast club in Reading as the Government rolled out the free scheme to a further 500 primary schools.
“I’m really pleased there’s a criminal investigation and I want to see it succeed because the criminals need to be brought to justice,” he said.
He added: “I think the Environment Agency should use all the powers at its disposal to continue the cleanup” and that this should happen “as soon as possible”.
The area was closed and the EA said “the public and media are not allowed to enter the site and climb the waste” on the grounds that it could jeopardize the criminal investigation and risk damaging the environment.
The EA said it had no duty to clean up the waste, but it had the power to take action and its priority was to manage the risks posed by the litter and pursue those responsible to make them pay.
Police, fire services and Oxfordshire County Council are working with the EA.
Local Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller called on the Government to issue guidance similar to the one for Hoades Wood, near Ashford, Kent, in 2024, telling the EA to clear the site.
