Abandoned Trailer and Fly-Tipped Waste Persist on Roadside for Seven Months

A lorry trailer, left abandoned, along with fly-tipped refuse, remains situated on a roadside, seven months following its initial report to a local council. This refuse and the 13-meter (42-foot) trailer were deposited next to the A40 Oxford Road, specifically outside Gerrards Cross, in April, as indicated by submissions to Buckinghamshire Council’s Fix My Street service. The trailer occupies a spot adjacent to the council’s signage prohibiting fly-tipping. Local residents have voiced worries regarding the “eyesore” accumulation of waste, comprising items such as corrugated roof panels, wood, packaging, beer cans, and a mattress, which is reportedly being dispersed across the roadway. Buckinghamshire Council stated that the removal process constituted “a complex operation” necessitating lane closures, but expressed an expectation to clear the vehicle “in the coming weeks”. The council further noted that a criminal investigation into the matter was being conducted by the Environment Agency. Thomas Broom, Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for climate change and environment, acknowledged his awareness of five abandoned vehicles situated in five distinct locations, describing them as “all of which are overweight and not roadworthy”. He explained, “Removal has taken much longer than we would want, because the waste material inside the abandoned vehicles has had to be sampled and tested for contaminants, and a specialist removal contractor employed.” He continued, “Because of the scale of the removal needed, lane closures will be required as we complete the clearance so we are working to coordinate each site with other roadworks in the area to minimise disruption to the travelling public.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service has indicated that refuse is overflowing from the trailer’s rear doors. A resident, who initially reported the trailer in May, voiced apprehension that its roof had been removed, potentially allowing water ingress “causing failure in structural integrity, ultimately causing danger for the road users”. More recently, another resident submitted a report describing the “disgusting huge white trailer full of soil… been there for ages now. Huge fly tipping next to it. Total eyesore”. Broom commented: “This is a disgraceful act of fly-tipping on an industrial scale and there is also a criminal investigation under way due to the offences that have been committed, being led by the Environment Agency.” A spokesperson for the Environment Agency stated: “Our investigation into this incident continues and whilst this is ongoing, we will not be commenting further for legal reasons.” News from Beds, Herts, and Bucks is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright for this content is held by BBC, 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding the BBC’s approach to external linking is available.