THURROCK Council joined forces with colleagues from Essex Police and the Environment Agency on Tuesday (8 October) in an operation at an illegal waste site in South Ockendon where thousands of tonnes of waste has been dumped.
The operation came about thanks to liaison work taking place between the council and the Environment Agency.
Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: “This shows the kind of joined up working taking place to tackle environmental issues and large scale fly-tips in Thurrock. This site is enormous with a pile of waste over 30 feet tall covering an area more than half-a-mile long.
“It appears the site has been used for the disposal of waste at a criminal level and by working together we, the Environment Agency and the Police have shown that we will not tolerate environmental crime in the borough and will take whatever action is necessary to make sure sites like this are dealt with. Those responsible will face the appropriate consequences which should act as a deterrent to others and help to protect the borough for our residents to enjoy.”
Emma Viner, Enforcement Team Leader, Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency is leading the investigation into a number of alleged offences at this site. We are working collaboratively with our partners to bring those responsible to justice.
“Waste crime can pose a significant risk to our environment, local communities and undermines legitimate business. The Environment Agency is taking tough action to tackle organised criminality and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where offences are identified.”
Chief Inspector Terry Balding, head of the Essex Police Rural Engagement Team, said: “Rural crime can take place in a number different forms and the Essex Police Rural Engagement Team has key priorities which include fly-tipping.
“We will work with all agencies to protect the Essex countryside and its people. The Rural Engagement Team has almost doubled in size and will continue to grow to increase confidence within the rural communities across the county.”
Call me cynical but how long does it take to dump waste 30ft high and a half ile long,? This must have been going on for sometime, so why take so long to action it?
Maybe the powers at be could tell us where this is in Ockendon. Surely the smart thing would have observed the culprits, catch them red handed and took away the lorries….Opps sorry, that would be to easy and against their human rights.
ford used to have a factory opposite where the new houses are going up
As has already been stated this has not happened overnight! Why has it only been reported in “Your Thurrock” and why are we not being told where it is in South Ockendon?
where theres muck theres brass.