A staggering 30,000 tonnes of household waste has been illegally dumped at a protected site near a small village in Leicestershire. This massive heap of refuse has sprawled over an area equivalent to a football field’s size.
The towering pile of shredded garbage has created quite a nuisance around Cave’s Inn Pits, located near the village of Shawell, which is home to approximately 200 residents. Despite the presence of a waste disposal facility just a short ten-minute drive away, the site now suffers from a persistent foul odor.
In a bid to conceal their actions, the fly-tippers attempted to cover the rubbish with soil. Unfortunately, this act of concealment is polluting a scenic beauty spot and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is tucked behind a service station on the A5.
The illegal dumping came to light when passers-by began to notice the unpleasant smell. Consequently, the Environment Agency and Natural England have advised the public to steer clear of the affected area as they launch an investigation into the matter.
Sallyann Bundock, a local resident who has lived in the vicinity for two decades, expressed her dismay: “It’s really sad to see what they have done up there,” she lamented. “This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and many people enjoy walking their dogs around the surrounding fields. But now, it just reeks, and we can’t go up there.”
‘It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and lots of people walk their dogs around the fields nearby – but now it just stinks and can’t go up there.
‘We started noticing a really pungent smell probably around Easter time.
‘It must have taken thousands of trucks to have unloaded all that – yet the landowner doesn’t seem to know anything about it.
Tonnes of waste has been dumped near Shawell, Leicestershire, at a protected beauty spot
Satellite pictures from before the dump showed a green open space, which is now being polluted by the shredded waste
Fly-tippers used soil in an attempt to cover the waste, which weighs 30,000 tonnes and covers an area the size of a football pitch
Shawell resident Sallyann Bundock said the area ‘just stinks’ and it was ‘really disappointing’ to see the waste dumped
Shawell lies near Rugby in Leicestershire and has a population of around 200 people
‘It’s a really disappointing to say the least, when the wind is blowing the smell is really bad.
‘I don’t know how they can even remove that much waste or where it will even be taken to.’
Another villager, who did not wish to be named, added: ‘It’s disgusting there’s an illegal dump so close to our pretty village.
‘There’s a tip not that far away so there’s really no excuse for illegal dumping. It has left a really unpleasant smell too.’
Alongside a criminal investigation, the agency said it is assessing local air and water quality to prevent any further environmental impact.
Ian Jones, area director for the West Midlands at the Environment Agency, said: ‘This is a sickening case of large-scale illegal waste dumping, and we share the public’s disgust.
‘We have launched an investigation with Natural England to find the criminals and ensure they pay the price for their despicable actions.
‘We ask the public to stay away from the area, which is on private land, while we investigate. ‘
The beauty spot is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), meaning it is legally protected for conservation purposes
A criminal investigation is underway following the dump – the Environment Agency and Natural England have urged the public to stay away from the site
Waste could be seen strewn across the beauty spot – the Environment Agency said it would assess the air and water quality in the area
Phil Hukin, principal manager for Leicestershire and Rutland at Natural England said: ‘This site contained some of the best remaining areas of neutral marsh in Leicestershire.
‘It is heartbreaking to see one of England’s precious sites of special scientific interest damaged like this.
‘Our officers are working closely with Environment Agency colleagues to investigate this appalling crime.’
The Environment Agency has appealed for anyone with information to call their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
