A 39-year-old man from the Guildford area has been arrested in connection with the illegal dumping of a mountain of waste by the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, in what is believed to be the UK's largest fly-tipping case.
The suspect is being questioned by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit following the discovery of tonnes of waste dumped in a field outside Kidlington. Local MP Calum Miller has urged the government to issue an urgent directive for the clearance of the site, warning of irreparable damage to the river.
The Environment Agency (EA) is leading the investigation. The site, spanning 1.2 hectares, first raised suspicions in July when a cease and desist letter was issued. However, satellite images show that a vast mountain of waste was dumped in September. On 23 October, the EA obtained a court order to close the site.
EA area director Anna Burns said the arrest was a first step in delivering justice for residents and punishing those responsible. The agency is now working to install additional protective barriers to prevent waste from polluting the River Cherwell during heavy rainfall or flooding.
