Driver shocked by 'horrendous' fly-tipping

A resident said she had "never seen fly-tipping like it" after being confronted by a "horrendous" mound of rubbish dumped on a country road.

The huge pile of waste was discovered blocking Pound Hill, near Dallinghoo, in Suffolk, by Kate Luke, from Woodbridge, on Sunday.

She had been driving to meet a friend for lunch but ended up arriving late after having to find an alternative route as a result of the "horrible" mess.

Speaking to the BBC, she said that she was "completely shocked by the amount" of rubbish that had been illegally discarded.

"As I approached it, I just thought, 'what on earth is that?' and I actually got out of my car because I couldn't believe it, I've never seen fly-tipping like it," she said.

"It is horrendous and in such beautiful countryside, so to see that just left there is horrible, really."

East Suffolk Council said it was aware of this incident and its environmental protection team had been to the site to investigate and the removal of the waste had been arranged.

According to figures from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), councils in England dealt with 1.25 million fly-tipping incidents in 2024/2025.

This marked an increase of 9% from the 1.15 million incidents reported in 2023/24.

A total of 2,155 were reported to East Suffolk Council in 2024/2025, and the council took action 2,259 times, from sending a warning letter to issuing a fixed penalty notice.

"I just can't really understand why they would do it, because a waste licence is really cheap, it's not expensive," added Luke.

"So, I don't know why you wouldn't just do it legitimately, because there is no reason for people not to get rid of it in an appropriate manner."

A spokesperson for East Suffolk Council said: "Fly-tipping is unpleasant, unnecessary, unsightly and unacceptable and there is no excuse for it.

"Anyone who has seen anything or has any information that might help us identify those responsible is asked to contact our Customer Services team."

The latest incident of fly-tipping in Woodbridge comes weeks after a similarly large dump had to be cleared up by the council's environmental protection team.

"Householders have a legal obligation, known as a duty of care, to take all reasonable measures to ensure their waste is disposed of properly," the spokesperson added.

"When hiring someone to collect your rubbish, please always ask for a waste carrier licence and check those details on the Environment Agency register and always get a receipt.

"This helps to protect you, your community and the local environment from fly-tipping."

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.