Huge flytip discovered in Banbury field

Cherwell District Council officials are searching for the flytipper who dumped 30 bags of rubbish in a Banbury field.
Flytipping in Banbury fieldFlytipping in Banbury field
Flytipping in Banbury field

Weighing in at a sizeable 880kg, the waste required the services of five council staff and a further operative from the Canal and River Trust, who required the use of a boat to access the site which is located next to the Oxford Canal.

Councillor Debbie Pickford, lead member for clean and green said: “Flytips are a drain on the public purse, pulling hard-working staff away from other duties. Rather than letting the taxpayer foot the bill, we want to charge the person responsible. I urge anyone with information that will help us identify him or her to get in touch.”

The clean-up team arrived by boat and spent two-and-a-half hours cleaning the scene. In addition to clothes and electrical goods, they found 12 used medical syringes, food waste and camping equipment.

Workers clear away the huge flytipWorkers clear away the huge flytip
Workers clear away the huge flytip

Councillor Pickford added: “What was especially frustrating in this case was the fact that the culprit appears to have removed a large volume of clothes and electrical items from the recycling banks. This means that materials which local residents have rightly tried to recycle were removed from the appropriate containers and dumped in a field. This is to the detriment of the environment, the local community and the council.”

The crime was committed near Hardwick Lock Field Bridge No 160 on the outskirts of Banbury. The site is located on the outskirts of Banbury between the northern end of Grimsbury reservoir and the M40.

According to statistics published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the estimated cost of the clearance of flytipping to local authorities in England in 2014/15 was nearly £50 million. Flytipping is a criminal offence and Cherwell District Council is appealing for any information that will help to bring the perpetrator to justice.

If you have information about the flytip please call Cherwell District Council on 01295 227007. Calls will be treated in confidence.