A massive illegal rubbish dump is still spreading litter across part of the Nottinghamshire countryside as a deadline for the landowner to clear it up passes.
Nottinghamshire County Council issued an order in June for the site off the old A46, near Cotgrave, to be cleared after around 200 tonnes of waste appeared.
The enforcement notice on the landowners gave a deadline of Friday (September 1) for it all to be removed before criminal proceedings would be considered.
Although the landowner’s time technically runs out at midnight on Friday night, with the waste unmoved, a Nottinghamshire County Council spokesman told Notts TV on Friday morning the council is “considering its options” on what to do next.
The council does have powers to clear the site itself and attempt to recover any costs – although it has been estimated this could mean spending around £40,000 of taxpayers’ money initially.
Jonathan Smith, development manager at the authority, said: “Like local residents, the council is keen to see the land cleared of waste as soon as possible. The council continues to seek legal advice over next steps, should the order be breached.”
The Environment Agency is also investigating the tip, near an area known as the ‘Old Barn’ by some Cotgrave residents, off the old A46.
Video: Notts TV visited the site last month. It has remained untouched since.
Agency officials say the dump is “the aftermath of a large-scale industrial fly tipping event”, which includes large amounts of household waste.
Several fires have burned across the site since it appeared in the spring – further spreading rubbish to adjoining fields.
Notts TV has been unable to contact the landowners for comment.
Cotgrave Town Councillor Drew Wilkie said: “We just want the place cleaned up. I think the [county] council can’t profligate with council tax payers’ money, they have got to show they have been down every avenue they can.
“They [the Environment Agency] are saying it is part of organised crime – and I hope they get whoever is responsible and that they nail them for it because it’s harming our local community.”
