Authorities have stepped up efforts to protect residents and the local environment following the discovery of a vast illegal waste dump on the outskirts of Kidlington.
The Environment Agency (EA), Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and local emergency services are working jointly to secure the site, investigate the incident and prevent further environmental damage.
A 39-year-old man was arrested this week as part of the ongoing investigation, following a coordinated operation between the EA’s Major Investigation team and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. The EA’s National Environmental Crime Unit continues to lead the inquiry.
Environmental safeguards intensified
Local residents have raised concerns over potential contamination of nearby land and waterways. The waste mound sits just ten metres from the River Cherwell at its closest point, prompting fears that heavy rainfall could wash debris into the watercourse.
In response, the EA has installed large sandbags along the riverbank as a precautionary barrier. The site has been sealed with Heras fencing and placed under 24-hour security, with officials warning the public not to enter the restricted area.
Specialist EA teams remain on-site conducting environmental assessments and monitoring the river for signs of pollution.
Anna Burns, the Environment Agency’s Area Director for The Thames, said: “The Environment Agency and local partners are taking decisive action to ensure the community and environment are protected from the illegal waste dump in Kidlington.
Additional security measures, new protective barriers to prevent waste entering the River Cherwell, and enhanced monitoring efforts are all being carried out. As ever the safety of residents remains our top priority”.
An Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Earlier this week, with support from our partners at Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire, we checked the waste pile for any hot spots that could lead to a fire breaking out. Our team also visited the site to see how we could get in quickly if we need to respond in an emergency.
Keeping our firefighters and the local community safe is central to our planning as we continue to monitor the risk of this illegal waste site. We are continuing to work closely with our partners to respond to this awful environmental crime”.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said:
“We are operating as a team across many agencies every single day to deal with the issue in Kidlington. In recent days we have closed all footpaths surrounding the affected area and worked with the EA to engage 24-hour security to protect what is a crime scene while investigations continue. Everybody is determined to bring the culprits for this disgraceful act to justice and to reassure the public that we are working hard to move this issue forward”.
Clearing the waste
Authorities are assessing options for the safe removal and disposal of the dumped material. Officials say the process will be carefully managed to minimise environmental impact, but no timeline has yet been given.
Public asked for information
Investigators continue to piece together how the large-scale dumping operation was carried out. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 807060, or report anonymously via CrimeStoppers. Photo by Kidlington village centre by Alan Hunt, Wikimedia commons.