Residents in the UK are left at “the end of their tether” after illegal waste sites have emerged, causing house prices to plummet. Mountains of rubbish have appeared near the homes of angered locals who have described one location as an “environmental horror”. Evesham in Worcestershire is one of two towns where inquiries are being held into suspected illegal waste dumping. In the nearby village of Peopleton, the issue centres at Stone Arrow Farm, which is now reportedly so severe that estate agents advised residents not to sell their homes.
“There is a level of anger, and you can feel that on a daily basis,” one resident told the BBC anonymously. The local moved to the area six years ago to give their children a “nice safe environment”. They said: “You develop a sense of anger because you get to a point where we don’t actually like living where we live.”
Another resident said they felt “trapped” after an estate agent told them to be “realistic” after giving them their postcode.
“There were doubts it would sell and they were also told they’d have to take a huge drop in price,” they told the broadcaster.
“They advised them not to sell at the moment.”
Conservative Councillor Linda Robinson said Peopleton, which has a population of 640, had endured “noise, disturbance and dust” for the last 18 months.
“I think many of them are at the end of their tether and would actually quite like to leave Peopleton and are actually now trapped,” she said.
“The effect of this is lowering the value of their properties or making them impossible to sell, so it’s an untenable position for them and something I would like to help them do something about.”
Nigel Huddleston, the MP for Droitwich and Evesham, where one rubbish site is located, said he was “very concerned by the ongoing activities”,
“Having met local residents on several occasions about this matter, I know how damaging these activities are for the local community,” he said.
The Tory MP added that he has engaged with district and county councils, the Environment Agency, West Mercia Police, external stake holders, the Health and Safety Executive and the DVSA since the issues first arose last year.
He continued: “I remain absolutely committed to working with all stakeholders and to do whatever I can to help bring this situation to an end, for the benefit of my constituents.”
