🔗 Share this article Illegal dumpers cover countryside in mountain of rubbish Local resident The area has been labeled an "environmental catastrophe". Journalist surveyed the scene and stated the mound appeared to be "six meters tall at least". Illegal dumpers have dumped a mountain of garbage in a open space in Oxfordshire. The "environmental crisis developing in plain sight" is up to 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) in height. The huge mound has materialized in a plot of land alongside the River Cherwell near Kidlington. Parliament representative raised the problem in parliament, saying it was "risking an ecological catastrophe". Protection organization said the illegal garbage pile was formed around a recently by an criminal network. "This represents an ecological disaster unfolding in plain sight. "Every day that elapses raises the risk of hazardous run-off getting into the river system, contaminating animals and endangering the health of the complete watershed. "Regulatory bodies must respond now, not in months or years, which is their standard action timeframe." Legal prohibition had been put in place by the environmental authorities. It is hard to recognize any specific bits of garbage as it seems to have been pulverized with soil mixed in. Part of the waste from the uppermost part of the mound has fallen and is now only five metres from the waterway. The River Cherwell is a branch of the River Thames, which means it flows through Oxford before meeting the Thames. Parliament TV The MP mentioned the cost of clearing the garbage would be substantial The representative requested the authorities for support to remove the unauthorized dump before it caused a blaze or was swept into the aquatic system. Speaking to parliament members on this week, he said: "Lawbreakers have discarded a massive amount of unauthorized polymer rubbish... amounting to substantial weight, in my constituency on a riverside area next to the River Cherwell. "River levels are rising and temperature readings indicate that the rubbish is also increasing in temperature, raising the risk of blaze. "Environmental authorities stated it has restricted resources for compliance, that the anticipated cost of disposal is greater than the whole annual budget of the municipal authority." Cabinet member said the administration had taken over a underperforming recycling sector that had resulted in an "widespread problem of unlawful dumping". She advised parliament members the agency had implemented a access ban to stop additional entry to the area. In a announcement, the agency said it was investigating the situation and appealed for details. It said: "We understand the public's anger about situations like this, which is why we take action against those accountable for illegal dumping." A recent report found efforts to address significant waste crime have been "severely under-prioritised" notwithstanding the situation becoming larger and more complex. Government advisors proposed an separate "thorough" examination into how "endemic" illegal dumping is dealt with.