The owner of a field in Salters Lane, near Faversham in Kent, says around 30 tonnes of industrial waste have been illegally dumped on his land. He has been quoted as describing himself as "helpless" after being told a private contractor would charge about £20,000 to clear the site and test material for contaminants.
The landowner, who is not being named for safety reasons, said the site was first targeted in June when the locks were changed to a combination lock for which he did not have the code. He reported gates being forced open on multiple occasions and replaced locks being cut off and left by those responsible.
The owner said the site has been left with mattresses, gas bottles and a caravan, and fears it could be "turning into another Hoads Wood". He told reporters: "It's dreadfully frustrating to see what was once a pretty patch of land turned into an eyesore. I feel helpless to stop it, and it's outrageous that no one is doing anything about it."
A private firm has provided a quote of about £20,000 to remove the waste. That figure would cover removal and laboratory testing for hazardous materials such as asbestos. The owner said concrete blocks would also be needed at the entrances to prevent further access, alongside the cost of replacing locks.
After reporting the problem to police, the owner said he was informed that issues of trespass are a civil matter.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said its environmental crime unit inspected the site in August, and Swale Borough Council is now investigating.
A Swale Borough Council spokesperson said the authority "cannot spend public money to fix private gates or clear waste from a private property". The council also said it is "working with partners to identify who is doing this", but added that it is the "landowner's responsibility to secure their property". They went on: "We understand how difficult this situation is for the landowner. It is unacceptable that criminals are damaging their property to dump waste."
Speaking about the issue, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott said: "We need to prosecute more people for doing this and go after their assets."
A House of Lords report published in October concluded that serious waste crime was "critically under-prioritised" and called for a "root and branch" inquiry into how "endemic" waste crime is being tackled.
Swale Borough Council says it will continue its investigation to identify those responsible and "won't hesitate to take the appropriate legal action when we do." The landowner remains concerned about the cost and practical barriers to clearing the site and preventing further incidents.