Illegal Dump Blocked After Waste Burning Reports

Access to an illegal waste dump located in Old Swarland, Northumberland, has been effectively blocked. The Environment Agency (EA) successfully obtained a court order prohibiting any further waste from being taken to the site. Concrete blocks have now been placed around the area to prevent vehicle access, addressing concerns raised by recent reports.

Officials from the EA confirmed that an investigation is actively continuing. This inquiry focuses on allegations of waste dumping and fires that were observed at the site over the past several months. Gary Wallace, area environment manager for the EA, emphasized the damaging impact of waste crime on communities and the environment.

The restriction order, granted at Bedlington Magistrates' Court and effective for six months, follows a previous legal action. In December, an individual received a suspended jail sentence stemming from an investigation into illegal waste dumping at the same location between July and October 2024. The EA remains committed to prosecuting those involved in such activities.