A frustrated villager says residents are increasingly ‘exasperated’ after more rubbish was dumped at an illegal waste site, just when they thought the site was about to be cleared.
The material, which appears to be window frames, was said by a resident to have been dumped at Stone Arrow Farm in Peopleton on Thursday.
Residents say three roll-on roll-off skips arrived and the contents, ‘which appear to be window frames’. We have previously reported how West Mercia Police carried out a warrant at the site in connection with an ongoing investigation into illegal waste sites in January.
A photo, taken on Thursday, shows the material towering over the gate of the compound at the farm which remains at the centre of an investigation by the Environment Agency and other partners, including West Mercia Police.
A villager, who declined to be identified, said: “Peopleton residents are exasperated that, despite enforcement notices, the shambolic illegal and unregulated waste dumping continues at Stone Arrow Farm.”
He added: “I’m told both the Environment Agency and Wychavon District Council have been notified.”
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We have approached Carl Powell, who owns Stone Arrow Farm, for comment. He was not available for comment. We have previously reported how he has installed a ‘no tipping’ sign at the entrance to the compound and has said he has asked his tenant not to deposit waste material there.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We continue to investigate reports of waste being deposited at this site and related sites. While this is subject to an ongoing criminal investigation, where we find evidence of criminal activity, we will take robust enforcement action against those responsible.”
A planning enforcement notice was served on the owners of Stone Arrow Farm on September 25 by Worcestershire County Council in relation to a green waste operation on the site.
In January, landowner Carl Powell said he understood the deadline to remove the waste was March 6 this year. Inspectors from the county council visited on March 3 and said the site was now compliant.
However, villagers dispute this, saying they have provided evidence of further tipping before and after this inspection.
