Moment lorry with no number plates arrives at Hoad’s Wood fly-tipping spot where locals are furious over 12ft mountain
Published: 15:56, 10 January 2024 | Updated: 16:05, 10 January 2024
Cameras caught the moment a lorry with no number plates arrived at a prolific fly-tipping spot at treasured wildlife haven Hoad’s Wood – where locals are furious over a 12ft mountain of rubbish.
After officials launched an investigation into the piles of waste around the four acres of Hoad’s Wood in Kent, near Winnie the Pooh’s Ashdown Forest, TalkTV[2] caught a big lorry holding material similar to what had already been dumped pulling in.
The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the range of birds, insects and trees that call it home.
Shocking footage on TalkTV this morning showed the white lorry, with an open blue trailer, reversing into the area plagued by fly-tipping.
After the driver clocked the camera crew, they then drove off.
Cameras caught the moment a lorry with no number plates arrived at a prolific fly-tipping spot at treasured wildlife haven Hoad’s Wood – where locals are furious over a 12ft mountain of rubbish
Shocking footage on TalkTV this morning showed the white lorry, with an open blue trailer, reversing into the area plagued by fly-tipping.
Officials have launched an investigation after mountains of waste were piled 12ft high around the four acres of Hoad’s Wood in Kent, near Winnie the Pooh’s Ashdown Forest
Rubbish dumped at Hoad’s Wood in Kent which was seen on TalkTV this morning
Reporter Nick Ellerby said: ‘We got here this morning and by the gate there’s a sign saying “fly-tippers are being watched”.
‘And as we arrived this morning around 7.30 a lorry with no numbers on it pulled into the gate to the entrance of this road with exactly the same material that you can see beneath my feet.
‘He saw us filming him and trying to work out what he was doing, and then drove off.’
He added: ‘People in this area are very very angry about what’s happened. I spoke to a number of locals this morning who were very happy to stop and talk to us and happy the press were here to report on this because they want something done about it.’
He said that locals have told him that fly-tipping has been prevalent in the area since at least July last year.
Carl Ford, a local who works near the fly-tipping site, told TalkTV: ‘I don’t know what they’re doing but every time I’ve come down this road there’s a lorry coming from the main road that comes out of High Halden.
‘Also you’ll see local small trucks come along and dump rubbish here all the time.
‘I come down here at between half seven and half eight every morning and then I past here at half four or half five every day and there’s something going on every other day.’
Shocking photos revealed that this part of Hoad’s Wood resembles a landfill site rather than a wildlife sanctuary – despite signs at the entrance warning fly-tippers they are being watched and will be prosecuted.
One local from the nearby town of Ashford could not believe what he saw when he visited the area of the woods – which was listed for auction with land and property auctioneer Clive Emson. Councillor Yolanda Barker, of the Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council (GCwSPC), says she was ‘appalled’ to see what had become of the ‘cherished’ woodland area.
Piles of waste have accumulated in the woodland area, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the range of birds, insects and trees that call it home
One local from the nearby town of Ashford couldn’t believe what he saw when he visited the area of the woods – which was listed for auction with land and property auctioneer Clive Emson
A variety of birds breed in the wood, including nightingales, woodcocks, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and several kinds of tits and warblers
Officials at the Environment Agency are working with Kent Police’s rural task force and Kent County Council to catch the fly-tippers.
Councillor Barker said yesterday: ‘GCwSPC is appalled by this shocking sight.
It is disheartening that some individuals find it acceptable to mistreat this cherished land.
‘Hoad’s Wood should be respected, not tarnished by unscrupulous actions.
‘The implications are morally reprehensible, posing a substantial cost to the community and causing profound damage to flora and fauna with lasting effects.
‘We are pleased that Kent County Council and the Environment Agency are already working on this but hope that it is removed quickly unlike other areas where it has been left as it is too expensive to remove at taxpayer’s expense.’
A spokesperson from the Environment Agency confirmed that a multi-agency investigation was underway into who was dumping the rubbish at Hoad’s Wood, which spans around 200 acres in total.
‘We are leading the ongoing investigation into the alleged illegal tipping of commercial waste at Hoad’s Wood with support from Natural England, Forestry Commission, Kent County Council and Kent Police rural task force,’ the spokesperson said.
‘If you are suspicious of any waste crime, you can report it to us on our 24/7 incident number on 0800 807060.’
The county has become somewhat of a hotspot for illegal fly-tipping in recent years, with tonnes of rubbish also having been dumped on Sheppey Beach, which is also an SSSI.
References
- ^ Oliver Price (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ TalkTV (www.dailymail.co.uk)