MP reacts to Environment Agency beginning the removal of illegal waste dump

Calum Miller, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, was met by Emma Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, at the site to witness the first trucks being loaded up with waste from the illegal dump site. 

After initial delays, due to a very wet start to the year, the Environment Agency has been preparing the area by laying hard standing and putting in traffic control measures to minimise local traffic disruption from the waste removal. 

The illegal dump prompted national outrage when reports hit that a mountain of waste had been dumped in a field between the River Cherwell and the A34 near Kidlington. When it was raised with him when door-knocking, Calum immediately recognised the environmental threat and demanded that the Government step in and compel the Environment Agency to take on the removal of the waste. Working closely with local residents, environmental groups and farmers, he led a successful campaign in Parliament to get action taken.  

Bicester and Woodstock MP Calum Miller commented:  

“I’m so pleased to see the waste finally being removed. Residents had to push for months to get this illegal dump cleared, and they were right to worry about the harm it could cause to the River Cherwell and the surrounding area. 

“The impact of organised crime cannot be underestimated. I will keep pressing to make sure those responsible are held to account and that local taxpayers are not left footing the bill. 

“We need more funding from landfill revenues to stop waste crime, for the National Crime Agency to take the lead in tackling the serious criminals involved,   a clear message that the public should call Crime Stoppers if they have any suspicions of waste crime being committed.”

“This appalling case shows the scale of the waste crime scandal across the country. Landfill Tax raises nearly half a billion pounds a year, and more of that money should be used to properly fund the fight against waste crime. The National Crime Agency should take a stronger lead in pursuing the criminal networks behind it, and the EA should do more to publicise a single reporting number so communities know how to report suspicious activity before another illegal dump takes hold.”