A 39-year-old man from the Guildford area has been arrested in connection with the illegal dumping of a large quantity of waste in a field alongside the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire. The arrest was carried out by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, and the suspect is currently being questioned.
The dumping, which created a mountain of waste in a field near Kidlington, came to light after campaigners posted images highlighting the scale of the problem. Local MP Calum Miller has urged the government to issue an urgent directive to clear the site before it causes irreparable damage to the river.
The Environment Agency (EA) is leading the criminal investigation. Anna Burns, the agency's area director for the Thames, stated: “The appalling illegal waste dump in Kidlington has rightly provoked outrage over the potential consequences for the community and environment. Our investigative efforts have secured an arrest today, which will be the first step in delivering justice for residents and punishing those responsible.”
Suspicions of illegal dumping at the 1.2-hectare site were first raised in July, prompting the EA to send a cease and desist letter to the landowner. However, satellite images indicate that the vast waste mountain was dumped in September. The EA obtained a court order to close the site on 23 October.
Last week, EA officials visited the field and agreed a plan to deploy additional protective barriers to prevent waste from polluting the River Cherwell, particularly during heavy rainfall or flooding. The agency said they will work urgently to install these barriers to protect the environment.
