Calls to clear 'mountain of rubbish' at illegal dump

Questions are being asked about an unauthorised waste site in Surrey after a deadline passed to clear what residents have described as a "mountain of rubbish".

The Environment Agency revoked an environmental permit for the site at Dorking West Station Yard on 13 April and ordered all waste to be removed by 15 May, but the site remains in place.

Surrey County Council has issued an enforcement notice over the land near the railway station, while Dorking and Horley MP Chris Coghlan said the noise, vehicles and risks of pollution had been a "blight" for residents.

The BBC has approached Surrey Recycling Services Limited, which was given the enforcement notices, but they have not responded.

One person, who rents plots at the nearby Ranmore Road allotments and did not want to be named, said she did not understand why the waste had been allowed to build up.

"It's like a mountain of rubbish towards the railway side, and it looks as though, if it was on fire, that would stop the railway, the trains, access, all of that," she said.

"Also, there's a lot of damage, and it doesn't look good, so I think that needs to be addressed."

Another resident said large skip lorries were bringing in rubbish, and local people who used to enjoy the area had been "driven away".

Coghlan said that he had raised the issue with the Environment Agency three times in the past year.

He said the site had been a blight for residents for years, adding: "Lots of people have complained to me about the excessive noise, HGV movements and risks of pollution coming from the site."

Coghlan said the site never had planning permission for these activities, adding: "Now that the deadline has passed on the EA's order to clear the site, I'm concerned that the burden may eventually fall on the taxpayer to remove this mountain of rubble."

The Environment Agency said specialist officers were considering next steps and that enforcement options remained under review.

A spokesperson added the situation was "unacceptable".

A Surrey County Council spokesperson said the authority had issued an enforcement notice, but an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate had prevented it from taking legal effect until a decision was made on the future of the site.

The appeal remains under consideration, the council said, and the authority was awaiting a decision.

The council is continuing to undertake inspections in order to review the ongoing operations at the site.

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