The picturesque Cotswolds town of Tetbury has been plunged into a public health crisis as giant bonfires burning industrial waste have blanketed the area in toxic smoke for over a week. Residents living just yards from the blazes report violent sickness, severe chest problems, and being forced to lock themselves indoors as thick black smoke billows from the 10-acre industrial estate.
Health Emergency Unfolds Near Royal Residence
Located merely a mile from King Charles's Highgrove home, the Tetbury Industrial Estate has become the epicentre of an environmental disaster. Multiple residents have documented workers dumping rubber tyres, plastic containers, and oil drums onto enormous pyres, with fears that asbestos from dilapidated buildings has also been added to the toxic mix. The acrid smoke has enveloped a nearby care home, nursery, and hundreds of dwellings, creating what locals describe as "a scene from a Hollywood disaster movie."
Tycoon's Controversial Ownership
The industrial site is owned by Windsor-based millionaire Fred Doe Sr, previously known as Maurice Sines, who has been attempting to sell the sprawling complex of run-down, asbestos-lined units for over eighteen months. Despite his denials, Mr Doe has been linked to the notorious Kinahan crime cartel, one of the world's most fearsome criminal syndicates. This connection reportedly led him to change his name from Maurice Sines to Fred Doe to avoid targeting by the UK's National Crime Agency.
Residents allege that Mr Doe, a caravan tycoon with numerous business interests including luxury car outlets, is burning polluting waste to avoid paying specialist companies for proper disposal. "He's a multi-millionaire who could easily afford to do this the right way," one local told the Daily Mail. "It just shows he doesn't care a jot for people."
Emergency Services Overwhelmed
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service has been inundated with more than fifty emergency calls relating to the fires, attending the site on eight separate occasions. A spokesperson confirmed that between January 12th and the present, their control room received fifty-three calls concerning the industrial estate blazes. Despite this, residents report feeling abandoned by authorities, with one stating: "The cops and fire crews say they can't do anything because it's on private land."
Residents' Harrowing Accounts
Multiple Tetbury residents have come forward with disturbing accounts of the health impacts and intimidation they've experienced. One resident photographed the burning activity only to be immediately confronted by Doe's workmen who "walked towards him taking photographs" in what was perceived as an intimidating manner. Many have asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals.
"I was physically sick several times after nipping out to the shops," reported one local. "We've all been scared to leave our homes for a week because the smoke is so thick it chokes us. Lots of us have had chest pain and breathing problems that we've never experienced before." Another resident described how their son was sick from the smell, while others have kept children off school to avoid exposure during the walk there and back.
Council Action and Political Response
Cotswold District Council has confirmed that officers visited the industrial estate multiple times last week, issuing the owner with a fixed penalty notice and a nuisance abatement notice. Dr Roz Savage, the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds, stated that these represent all available actions at this stage but vowed to continue pushing for decisive measures. "This situation has understandably caused real distress for people in Tetbury," Dr Savage said, "and I completely share residents' concerns about the impact on their health and quality of life."
Pattern of Controversial Practices
This incident follows a pattern of complaints against Mr Doe's business practices. Last year, residents living near another of his assets - a scrapyard in Eton - told the Daily Mail their houses had become unsellable due to his use of the site. Despite outbidding Eton School for the land with a £783,000 payment, Mr Doe had submitted only three planning applications to Windsor and Maidenhead Council despite dramatically changing the land's use.
The Tetbury estate itself has a troubled recent history, with two illegal cannabis factories uncovered on the premises in the past year. One of these operations caught fire as growers fled, triggering a police helicopter search for the culprits. Mr Doe has denied any knowledge of his buildings being used for such purposes.
Lavish Lifestyle Contrasts with Community Impact
While residents suffer health consequences, Mr Doe maintains a conspicuously lavish lifestyle. Social media posts show him cruising through Belgravia in a £400,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, golfing with stars like Gary Player, and taking high tea with his wife Elaine at the Dorchester Hotel. This stark contrast has further angered locals who feel their wellbeing is being sacrificed for financial convenience.
As the fires continue to rage, Tetbury residents remain trapped in their homes, with many contemplating temporary relocation. The community's frustration grows with each passing day of toxic smoke, as they await meaningful intervention to end what one resident called "an absolute joke" of regulatory failure.
