Council investigating suspected illegal waste site

Officers of South Kesteven District Council and Lincolnshire Police have carried out a search of a remote piece of land in Ancaster.

The district council says the site off Water Lane first came to the attention of SKDC’s Neighbourhoods Team when people living nearby reported regular bonfires that were causing them distress.

Rubbish, some of it burnt, including fridge-freezers, car parts, tyres, scrap metal, construction and household waste, plastics and window frames were discovered on the site, which was fenced and secured by a metal gate, said the council.

“A mechanical digger also unearthed buried waste, including what is suspected to be asbestos,” said the council in a statement.

it added: “The land is designated for agricultural use and does not hold permits to store or transfer waste, or to live on the site in static caravans.”

SKDC Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Coun Rhys Baker, said: “When large quantities of waste are dumped, burned, or buried on land, serious environmental and health risks can arise from pollution in the ground, in watercourses or released as particles into the air.

“In South Kesteven, we are doing our bit to stop our communities and our precious environment from being damaged by such activity.

“I would urge anyone who has suspicions of potentially illegal activity to report it to us.”

Two people have been questioned on suspicion of fly-tipping, waste and animal welfare offences and investigations by SKDC and the police are continuing.

Five dogs were seized by the police, and improvement orders were issued relating to the care of a horse, sheep and poultry and wildfowl, said the council