Fly-tippers bury countryside in mountain of garbage
Witness
Fly-tippers have deposited a massive amount of garbage in a open space in Oxfordshire.
The "ecological disaster unfolding in full view" is approximately 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) in height.
The enormous pile has materialized in a field alongside the River Cherwell near Kidlington.
Parliament representative highlighted the issue in parliament, declaring it was "risking an environmental emergency".
An environmental charity stated the unlawful garbage pile was created about a month ago by an illegal operation.
"This represents an environmental crisis taking place in plain sight.
"Daily that passes increases the danger of poisonous drainage reaching the river system, contaminating wildlife and putting at risk the condition of the whole catchment.
"The Environment Agency must respond immediately, not in extended periods, which is their standard reaction time."
A restriction order had been put in place by the regulatory body.
It is hard to distinguish any specific bits of waste as it appears to have been shredded with earth blended.
Part of the garbage from the peak of the mound has collapsed and is now only five metres from the waterway.
The River Cherwell is a feeder stream of the River Thames, which signifies it runs through Oxford before meeting the Thames.
Official recording
The official requested the government for help to clear the illegal site before it triggered a fire or was washed away into the river system.
Addressing MPs on this week, he declared: "Criminals have deposited a massive amount of unauthorized synthetic materials... totaling substantial weight, in my district on a floodplain adjacent to the River Cherwell.
"River levels are increasing and temperature readings show that the waste is also heating up, raising the risk of blaze.
"The Environment Agency said it has limited capabilities for regulation, that the estimated expense of clearance is greater than the whole yearly allocation of the regional government."
Environment minister commented the administration had assumed responsibility for a underperforming waste industry that had caused an "growing issue of unauthorized waste disposal".
She advised MPs the agency had issued a access ban to halt further admission to the location.
In a statement, the agency said it was examining the situation and requested for evidence.
It stated: "We share the community's anger about incidents like this, which is why we take action against those responsible for illegal dumping."
A recently published report determined efforts to tackle serious illegal dumping have been "critically overlooked" even though the situation becoming bigger and more complex.
A parliamentary committee suggested an autonomous "comprehensive" inquiry into how "endemic" illegal dumping is dealt with.