Road blocked by huge rubbish pile

‘It will keep happening unless they find out who is doing it’

Fly-tippers dumped so much waste on a country lane in Wickhambreaux that drivers could not pass it.

Around five tonnes appeared in Wickham Court Lane overnight on Sunday, with the road only passable after villagers pushed it to one side. The waste consisted of rubble and other rubbish from building sites.

Villager Charles Porter was among those who came across it and is urging the council to investigate who was responsible.

Mr Porter, 71, said: “It looks like this was simply off the back of a truck which turned up in the middle of the night and just tipped it in the middle of the road.

“This is a single-track road and the rubbish was actually blocking vehicles getting past until some of the villagers moved it.

“This happens periodically in this area and it will keep happening unless they find out who is doing it. The council should investigate it properly and look through the waste to see whether there is anything which can link it to someone.”

Farmer Martin Twyman found the builder’s rubble outside the entrance to one of his fields.

He said: “This is about the fourth time I have found fly-tipping in the lanes around here lately, and it has become a serious problem.

“Just last week, there were old sofas and beds dumped at the roadside. Not only is it a disgusting eyesore in the countryside, but there is the added cost of clearing it up. The builders’ waste completely blocked the entrance to the farm, which is obviously a serious pain and had to be cleared up at considerable cost in time and money.

“They must have used some sort of tipper truck to do it, but it would have only taken a couple of minutes to offload it and they they’d be gone, as quick as that.

“Unfortunately, unless these fly-tippers get caught in the act or leave something which identifies them, it’s very hard to nab them for it.”

More rubbish was tipped on the Stodmarsh Road on the same night. Instances of fly-tipping should be reported to Canterbury City Council, which has the power to issue fixed penalty notices. Flytipping can also be reported to the Environment Agency or anonymously to Crimestoppers.