Three held over illegal waste dumping in woodland

Three men have been arrested as part of an investigation into the large-scale, illegal dumping of waste at woodland in Kent.

Two men, aged 44 and 62 and from the Isle of Sheppey, and a 41-year-old man from Sittingbourne, were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the dumping at Hoads Wood, near Ashford, the Environment Agency (EA) said.

A criminal investigation was launched in 2023 after 30,000 tonnes of household and construction waste, piled 15 feet high in places, was discovered dumped in a large part of the wood, which is designated a site of special scientific interest.

The EA said it had secured a court order banning unauthorised access to the woodland and to halt more waste being dumped.

A specialist company has been appointed to remove the waste and help return the site to its former state.

Simon Hawkins, the Environment Agency's director of operations for East and South East England, said there had been "horrendous consequences" for the local community and environment.

He said the EA and Kent Police have been "working tirelessly to uncover the identity of those responsible and bring them to justice".

Sergeant Darren Walshaw, of Kent Police's Rural Task Force, said: "Fly-tipping and environmental crime is a blight on Kent's beautiful landscape and we are committed to supporting the Environment Agency in its ongoing efforts to bring those responsible to justice."

The EA added it was continuing to monitor the site for any impact on air or water quality, and that it will ensure all environmental authorisations are in place while the waste is cleared.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.