Dumping is stopped (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Dumping is stopped

8:30am Friday 20th January 2006 in Search By Paul Wellstead

THE Environment Agency has temporarily banned dumping at the Blunts Farm golf course site, Theydon Bois, after evidence was uncovered that general waste had been imported onto the site.

The action was taken before Tuesday's Epping Forest Council district development committee meeting, which was due to consider enforcement action against the site.

Environment Agency spokesman Daniel Taylor confirmed it had suspended the waste management licence exemption for Blunts Farm last Wednesday, after unannounced inspections unearthed evidence which substantiated residents' claims that general waste had been brought onto the site.

Mr Taylor said it was also concerned about the unauthorised pumping of rain water that had collected in one of the pits, into the nearby Garnish Hall Brook.

He added: "We will be meeting the site operators to remind them of the requirements of the exemption that they were issued with and to discuss a mutually satisfactory future work plan. Until then, the exemption will remain suspended."

Theydon Bois Action Group spokesman Jacqueline Dodman said the group welcomed the action taken by the Environment Agency and hoped it would not deter the district council from taking enforcement action.

Mrs Dodman said: "Thousands of lorries have delivered waste to the site yet have managed to excavate three enormous pits. The people of Theydon Bois and Abridge will find it very difficult to accept that more waste will have to be imported to fill the holes in order to landscape a golf course.

"Residents do not wish to see more lorries on their roads."

Swan Golf Designs principal Howard Swan, agent for Blunts Farm, said the course was over a year ahead of schedule and should be completed by 2008.

Mr Swan said: "The developers have always been, and continue to be, sensitive to the views of the district and parish councils, and at each stage of the development to date they have worked hand in hand with the council's officers.

"Wherever it was felt that landscaping may not be quite in accordance with the detail of the planning approval, changes have been made to meet the council's requests.

An Epping Forest Council spokesman said the council was aware of the Environment Agency's decision to close down the site following a recent inspection and "fully approves of theaction taken in the circumstances".