NEW illegal waste sites have been confirmed by amid rising concerns about dumping and fly-tipping in Worcestershire.
A series of new, illegal waste sites have been identified in addition to those at Stone Arrow Farm in Peopleton and Mill Lane in Wadborough, including at Bradley Green, near Evesham, and Astwood Bank, near Redditch.
New aerial photos show the scale of new waste sites at these locations as both the Environment Agency and Wychavon District Council continue to probe illegal sites.
It comes after residents of Peopleton raised fresh concerns about more waste material being deposited at Stone Arrow Farm despite enforcement action,
A planning enforcement notice was served on the owners of Stone Arrow Farm on September 25 by Worcestershire County Council in relation to a green waste operation on the site.
Inspectors from the county council visited on March 3 and said the site was now compliant, a claim disputed by villagers who have supplied fresh photographic evidence of new material being tipped.
The material, which appears to be window frames, was said by a resident to have been dumped at Stone Arrow Farm on Thursday, April 16.
West Mercia Police carried out a warrant at the site in connection with an ongoing investigation into illegal waste sites in January.
The landowner at Stone Arrow Farm, Carl Powell, has been approached for comment. He has previously installed ‘no tipping signs’ outside the compound and attributed the waste to a tenant.
MASSIVE: A large scale waste site at Throckmorton (Image: Supplied)
Ian Edwards, Wychavon’s Director of Economy and Environment, said: “We’re aware of concerns about additional dumping of illegal rubbish at Stone Arrow Farm, Bradley Green and Astwood Bank.
“If anyone has any evidence of new or continued dumping of waste at any of these sites, then we encourage them to share this with the responsible authorities which in this case is Worcestershire County Council and the Environment Agency, so they can investigate.
“We will continue to support our partners where we have the powers to do so.
“In terms of Mill Lane in Wadborough, the Enforcement Notice we served has now been appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and we await the outcome of that decision before deciding on our next steps.
“The Stop Notice we served alongside the Enforcement Notice, which prevents further dumping or sorting of waste, remains in place.”
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A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We continue to investigate reports of waste being deposited at this site and related sites. While this is subject to an ongoing criminal investigation, where we find evidence of criminal activity, we will take robust enforcement action against those responsible.
“We have already taken action at this site and will continue to work with the local council and the police force in Worcestershire to stop waste criminals.
“We encourage members of the public to report any incidents of pollution to the incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”
In 2024/5, across the country, the Environment Agency successfully stopped activity at 743 illegal waste sites, of which 84 were in the West Midlands Area.
The EA say tackling waste crime is complex and deep-rooted cross-government work – it cannot be solved overnight – but we are determined to make sustained progress.