30,000 tonnes of waste illegally dumped at protected Leicestershire site

A major investigation has been launched into the "sickening" large-scale dumping of waste at a protected site in Leicestershire. People near Cave's Inn Pits near the village of Shawell, south of Lutterworth, had reported odours coming from the site, described as "well-concealed" and is a site of special scientific interest. The Environment Agency said its officers, along with Natural England staff, visited the site last week and found approximately 30,000 tonnes of shredded waste in layers with soil used to cover it in an attempt to hide it, across an area the size of a football pitch. Work is now being carried out to mitigate the impact on wildlife, while a criminal investigation is under way. The private land is a former gravel works and protected for the importance of its neutral marsh as well as its scrub, grassland and pool habitats, which support a diverse range of breeding birds, according to government body Natural England. Air and water quality are now being monitored, the Environment Agency said, and the public are urged to stay away. Ian Jones, area director for the West Midlands at the agency, said: "This is a sickening case of large-scale illegal waste dumping, and we share the public's disgust. "We have launched an investigation with Natural England to find the criminals and ensure they pay the price for their despicable actions." Phil Hukin, principal manager for Leicestershire and Rutland at Natural England, added: "This site contained some of the best remaining areas of neutral marsh in Leicestershire. "It is heartbreaking to see one of England's precious sites of special scientific interest damaged like this." Waste crime in the UK has escalated in recent years, with high-profile illegal tips provoking public outrage, including the 150 metre-long dump near the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, and a 30,000-tonne heap in the protected area of Hoads Wood in Kent. Officials have also warned about a fifth of all rubbish is illegally managed, with gangs behind it becoming increasingly sophisticated. The government has since responded with a "zero-tolerance" new action plan to tackle the £1bn problem.