Fly-tipped heap near Kidlington an ‘environmental emergency’
November 17, 2025
Fly-tipped heap an ‘environmental emergency’
A mountain of waste fly-tipped in a field is an “environmental emergency”, a local nature volunteer has said.
The heap is up to 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) high and has appeared on a site between the River Cherwell and the A34 near Kidlington.
Charlie Henry, from the River Guardian Network, speaking from the site on Monday, said: “We really need help… it’s a disaster.”
The Environment Agency (EA), which is carrying out tests on the nearby River Cherwell, called it a “sickening case of large-scale illegal waste dumping”, and said it shared the public’s “disgust”.
Fly-tippers are thought to have spent weeks building up the mound in a field between the river and the A34.
Ms Henry told the BBC: “I don’t know if I have the words… I don’t know how anybody could do that.
“The Cherwell is in variable health but it’s quite healthy at the moment and it’s just devastating to see all this rubbish and mess.”
Environmental charity Thames21 is concerned that tonnes of plastic could be washed into the river.
Representative Dr Claire Robertson said: “Our rivers are in such trouble already.
“There’s sewage pollution, there’s run-off from agriculture and roads, and I spend my working life trying to protect and improve rivers.
“Then something like this comes along and it’s such a huge step back.”
The EA, which is leading the criminal inquiry, said it first attended the site on 2 July.
It said it immediately issued a cease and desist order on the landowner and more recently obtained a court order to close the field.
“We have launched a major investigation and are working closely with the police and other agencies to find those responsible and bring them to justice,” it said.
“Our specialist officers remain on the ground to support the investigation, and monitor the site to protect people and the environment from harm.”
Calum Miller, Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, asked an Urgent Question in the House of Commons on Monday, warning that the river level had risen by about 4ft (1.2m) in recent days and some of the waste was now afloat.
He said: “This incident highlights that organised criminal gangs are carefully planning operations to dump industrial waste in the countryside.
“They earn millions of pounds in illegal earnings without a thought for the health of people or animals, nor the damage to soil, water or air.”
Environment Minister Emma Hardy said she shared the MP’s “anger” over the fly-tip.
She said: “Because there’s a criminal investigation ongoing, I don’t want to pre-empt the findings of that.
“But I can reassure him that the Environment Agency are working very, very closely with local partners.”
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