🔗 Share this article Illegal dumpers bury open land in mountain of waste Witness This location has been described as an "ecological disaster". Correspondent inspected the scene and stated the mound appeared to be "twenty feet in height at least". Illegal dumpers have dumped a huge quantity of garbage in a field in Oxfordshire. The "ecological disaster occurring in full view" is approximately 150m (490ft) in length and 6m (20ft) tall. The huge mound has appeared in a open area alongside the River Cherwell close to Kidlington. A local MP brought up the problem in parliament, saying it was "risking an ecological catastrophe". Conservation group stated the unauthorized rubbish dump was established about a recently by an illegal operation. "This constitutes an environmental catastrophe unfolding in full view. "Every day that elapses raises the danger of poisonous seepage reaching the waterways, polluting animals and threatening the condition of the complete river basin. "Environmental authorities must act immediately, not in extended periods, which is their typical reaction time." Legal prohibition had been implemented by the environmental authorities. It is difficult to recognize any specific pieces of waste as it appears to have been broken up with earth mixed in. Some of the waste from the top of the mound has toppled and is now only five feet from the waterway. The River Cherwell is a branch of the River Thames, which indicates it travels through Oxford before meeting the Thames. Government broadcast Parliament representative said the expense of removing the waste would be substantial The MP asked the authorities for assistance to clear the illegal tip before it resulted in a blaze or was washed away into the aquatic system. Informing MPs on Thursday, he said: "Illegal operators have discarded a mountain of unauthorized polymer rubbish... amounting to substantial weight, in my constituency on a floodplain next to the River Cherwell. "Water heights are increasing and temperature readings indicate that the rubbish is also warming, increasing the risk of combustion. "The Environment Agency reported it has inadequate funding for enforcement, that the anticipated expense of removal is larger than the complete twelve-month allocation of the regional government." Cabinet member said the administration had assumed responsibility for a underperforming waste industry that had caused an "growing issue of unauthorized dumping". She advised MPs the authority had served a restriction order to stop further entry to the location. In a statement, the agency stated it was looking into the incident and asked for information. It stated: "We acknowledge the citizens' anger about situations like this, which is why we respond against those responsible for illegal dumping." A recently published investigation discovered efforts to tackle significant environmental offenses have been "critically under-prioritised" despite the situation becoming larger and more sophisticated. A parliamentary committee proposed an independent "thorough" examination into how "endemic" waste crime is dealt with.