We’re trapped inside our homes by 80ft mountain of rotting rubbish – it’s bigger than TWO double-decker buses combined
LOCALS have described being trapped inside their homes by a giant 80ft mountain of rotting rubbish.
The mound of industrial waste, which is longer than two double-decker buses combined, was dumped by fly-tippers in the early hours of Sunday morning (January 20).
Local businesses have also been left stranded due to the blockage on Watery Lane in Lichfield, Staffordshire.
According to local Elaine Hutchings, who owns a livery yard, the festering pile can be smelled from a distance.
She explained that the rural road - which was already inaccessible on one end due to ongoing works - was now completely unusable.
She said: "It's industrial rubbish, building waste, you can smell it.
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"Watery Lane is used as a cut-through. The one end was already shut due to scheduled works and this being dumped this morning means residents and businesses will be left isolated."
She added that nine or ten households had been cut off - with a small number, including Elaine's, able to escape their properties via an alternative route set up by housing developer Redrow.
However, she feared other neighbours wouldn't be so lucky, as "there are a lot [of developers] who won't do that."
She did, however, believe that staff from Lichfield District Council were on-site trying to move the build-up, adding: "I had a message from a farmer and they sent me a photograph.
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"I drove up and called the council, councillors and the police were already there.
"They are trying to sort the logistics of trying to get it moved."
In a statement posted on its website this morning (January 21), a spokesperson for the council reassured locals that it had already contacted the Environment Agency.
They said: "A large quantity of waste that has been fly tipped in Watery Lane.
"Due to the scale of the fly-tipping, we immediately informed the Environment Agency.
"Our Environmental Health Officers are looking for evidence to identify the people or vehicles involved.
"The road will remain closed until the waste has safely been cleared. We have arranged for a contractor to be on site from 7am on 21 January 2025, they will work to clear the waste as quickly as possible."
It comes just weeks after fly-tippers dumped mounds of garbage at an Asda store in Fife, Scotland on Boxing Day.
Horrified customers condemned the incident as "absolutely shocking" and spoke of their concern for a vermin infestatin.
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Meanwhile, an Asda spokesperson pleaded not to leave more rubbish until the bins were emptied.
Lichfield District Council has urged anyone with information about the people or vehicles involved, or the origin of the waste, to contact them on 01543 308000.
CRIMINAL OFFENCE
FLY-TIPPING means dumping waste illegally, instead of using the kerbside collection service or your local recycling centre.
From a bin bag left in front of your bin store or on the street to a mountain of tyres abandoned in a field, it's all flytipping.
Flytipping is a criminal offence. If you're caught you face a fixed penalty notice of £200.
But if you get taken to court, you could be fined up to £40,000 or sent to prison for a maximum of five years.
It's up to you to store and dispose of your household waste legally, safely and responsibly.
This means using your bins correctly and taking them in again once emptied. Check your local Council website for the correct way to use your bins.
If you have any information relating to a flytipping incident you can report it anonymously on your local council website.
Credit: The Scottish Government / Glasgow City Council
