Witness appeal after large-scale illegal waste tipping off A47 Leicester Road
A large amount of waste has been tipped on council-owned land off the A47 Leicester Road, between Hinckley and Earl Shilton, prompting an investigation and an appeal for witnesses.
The waste, which appears to include the contents of household skips, was found at the site along with evidence that heavy goods equipment had been used to create a soil embankment, deliberately shielding the area from public view.
The council, working with Leicestershire Police’s Rural Crime team and the Environment Agency, has acted quickly to secure the site and gather evidence to support the investigation. Two vehicles found on site have been removed under local authority powers for vehicles suspected of being used in waste crime.
The incident has been reported to the Environment Agency, which is now expected to lead the investigation into the incident, with the council continuing to provide support and evidence to help identify those responsible.
Anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area is urged to come forward. Officers are especially keen to hear from anyone who may have dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage from the area.
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leader Stuart Bray said: “This is a serious and deliberate act of waste crime. Those responsible have not only dumped a large amount of waste; they have taken steps to hide what they were doing. That makes it even more important that anyone who saw something unusual comes forward.
“We know residents will rightly be angry to see the countryside treated in this way. Our officers are working closely with the police and Environment Agency, and action has already been taken, including removing two vehicles from the site.
“Our priority now is to support the Environment Agency's investigation, secure the evidence and make sure those responsible are held to account, including for the clean-up. If you saw anything that did not look right in this area, please report it.”
Anyone with information should contact the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60, quoting incident number 02544976 or Leicestershire Police on 101. Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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