Fury in pretty little UK town as mountains of rubbish dumped near home | UK | News
UK residents are left “on the edge” after illegal landfills emerged and house prices collapsed. Mountains of rubbish have formed near the homes of angry locals who describe a place as an “environmental horror”. Evesham in Worcestershire is one of two towns where investigations are being carried out into suspected illegal dumping. In the nearby village of Peopleton, the problem is reportedly concentrated at Stone Arrow Farm and the situation is now so serious that estate agents are advising residents not to sell their homes.
“There is a level of anger and you can feel it every day,” one resident told the BBC. Locals moved to the area six years ago to provide a “nice and safe environment” for their children. They said: “You develop a sense of anger because you’re getting to the point where we don’t like living where we live.”
Another resident said they felt “trapped” after a real estate agent told them to be “realistic” after giving them their postcode.
“There were doubts that it would sell, and they were also told that they would have to endure a large drop in price,” they told the broadcaster.
“They advised them not to sell at this time.”
Conservative Councilor Linda Robinson said Peopleton, population 640, had been subject to “noise, disturbance and dust” for the past 18 months.
“I think a lot of them are now at the end of their ropes and actually want to leave Peopleton, and they’re actually trapped right now,” he said.
“The impact of this is that their property becomes devalued or impossible to sell, so it is an untenable situation for them and I want to help them do something about it.”
Nigel Huddleston, MP for Droitwich and Evesham, where a landfill is located, said he was “very concerned about the ongoing activity”.
“Having met with local people on a number of occasions regarding this issue, I know how damaging these activities are to the local community,” he said.
The Tory MP added that he had been in contact with district and county councils, the Environment Agency, West Mercia Police, external stakeholders, the Health and Safety Executive and the DVSA since the problems first emerged last year.
He continued: “I am absolutely committed to working with all stakeholders and doing all I can to bring this situation to an end for the benefit of my constituents.”
