Environment Agency Received Nearly 100 Warnings Over Seven-Year Toxic Fly Tip Operation
The Environment Agency was alerted nearly one hundred times about a vast illegal fly tip emitting toxic fumes in Gloucestershire, yet allowed the operation to continue unchecked for seven full years. Waste has now spread across more than two acres of land near the village of Over, creating an environmental disaster zone that regularly self-combusts and releases rancid smoke over neighboring properties.
Industrial-Scale Illegal Dumping Operation
This colossal tip features layers of waste reaching depths of up to twenty feet and is estimated to be at least ten times larger than the previously notorious "Britain's biggest" fly tip in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. The problem originated in 2018 when up to fifty trucks daily began arriving from across the United Kingdom to dump plastic, construction rubble, and general waste on land behind Over Farm.
Since that time, tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish have accumulated between a popular family adventure park and a body of water forming part of the historic Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal. Local residents describe the operation as industrial-scale fly tipping and report that their repeated complaints to both police and environmental authorities have been systematically ignored.
Failed Reporting System and Official Inaction
Official figures obtained through freedom of information laws reveal the Environment Agency received ninety-six separate reports of illegal waste dumping at the Over site between 2018 and last month. One local resident, who requested anonymity due to fears of retaliation from fly-tippers, disclosed he personally made five reports via the agency's incident hotline.
"I provided the Environment Agency with names of those controlling the land and photographic evidence including company names visible on lorries," the resident explained. "The agency responded that unless I was prepared to testify in court about taking the photographs, they couldn't use them - which felt like a complete dismissal of my concerns."
The frustrated resident eventually filed a formal complaint, resulting in a callback from a manager who concluded the conversation by asking him to pressure his local Member of Parliament for increased agency funding. "Everyone knows who these people are, but no authority will take action against them," he added.
Land Ownership and Business Connections
Land Registry documents identify the property owner as Sean Butcher, previously of Witney in Oxfordshire but now believed to reside elsewhere. A former neighbor told reporters Butcher operated several businesses related to building and house clearance services.
Local residents assert the tip itself has been managed by businessman Marshall Gorman, aged forty-five, who operates a driveway company in the area. Gorman is listed as owner of another nearby site in Rudford where Forest of Dean District Council has issued Planning Enforcement Action for "the importation, depositing and movement of materials" including construction waste.
The council confirmed taking action against the landowner - who also uses the surname Oldham - for "serious breaches of environmental regulations." Gorman's planning agent has publicly dismissed these claims as "unfounded."
Environmental and Community Impact
During a recent visit to Over Farm, pale grey smoke was observed drifting across the tip site with noxious fumes described as catching in visitors' throats. A spokesperson for Over Farm Park expressed serious concerns: "The biggest impact for us involves customers visiting the farm park. When fires ignite, black smoke billows across our property creating an unpleasant environment."
The spokesperson further noted that vehicle traffic to the illegal site compromises public safety and criticized authorities for failing to stop both the lorries and pollution despite local knowledge of those responsible.
Highnam Parish Council has escalated the matter by lodging a formal complaint with the Environment Agency's chief executive regarding the agency's persistent inaction. The Environment Agency issued a statement claiming: "We responded directly to reports of illegal activity at Over and since then no more waste has been deposited. We are investigating with local partners to understand the community impact."
The agency pledged to combat illegal waste dumping through increased drone surveillance, strengthened partnerships with local authorities and police, and more officers deployed on the ground. However, when pressed for specific details about actions taken at the Over site, the agency provided no additional response beyond confirming an ongoing investigation.
