Crime & Safety
Waste ‘buried metres deep’ at illegal Kidlington site
Some 400 lorries full of waste have now contributed to the supersite’s removal alongside the A34.
Criminal gangs dumped a massive pile of shredded plastic, tyres, and household waste stretching 150m (490ft) long and up to 6m (20ft) deep—covering an area larger than a football pitch (approximately two acres).
At the southern part of the site, the area is narrower and more confined, meaning work is more complex and will take a “little more time”, the Environment Agency said in an update on progress.
“We have already removed more than 400 lorry loads of waste from the site,” a spokesman said. “This is an important step in reducing the risks to the surrounding area.
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“In the northern section, we have found pockets of buried waste, in some places up to two metres deep.
“We will remove this once the more accessible waste has been cleared, so we can continue to work at pace.
“We continue to monitor the site closely. Temperature probes show that conditions remain stable, which reduces the risk of fire.”
Fears had been raised that the waste could potentially flow into the River Cherwell, but the Environment Agency insists this has been managed ever since it became aware of the site in July 2025.
“We are also sampling water from the River Cherwell every two weeks, where conditions allow,” the spokesman added. “This will continue until all the waste has been removed.
“The results so far show chemical levels similar to those found in other rivers across England. These are at very low levels and are not expected to cause harm to the environment.”
The major operation to clean up the mountain of waste began in mid-April and is expected to cost £7.3m, as per the contract with the Yorkshire-based firm tasked with the job.
But the Environment Agency has said it will look to claw back taxpayer’s money.
Specialist teams are working “at pace”, shifting around 15 to 30 lorry loads a day to clear the site and tackle the damage caused.
It’s expected the job will take around six months to complete.
Four men have been arrested in connection with the dump, including a 39‑year‑old man from the Guildford area, a 69‑year‑old in Andover, a 54‑year‑old from Slough and a 52‑year‑old from Ashford in Surrey.
The site is being treated as a live crime scene, with fencing and large sandbags installed between the waste pile and the river as protective measures.
An incident occurred in St Aldate’s, outside the entrance to Christ Church Meadows, at about 4pm on Tuesday, June 2.
At least three ambulances were responding to what appeared to be a medical emergency on the pavement.
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An individual was scene on a stretcher being cared for by paramedics.
An eyewitness said the incident occurred opposite the Alice Shop, and the medical teams ‘evacuated’ the person.
Apart from the pavement briefly being blocked while the first responders dealt with the emergency, it did not appear to affect traffic or block the road in busy St Aldate’s.
South Central Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
Daniel Kaveh, 24, Justin Hughes, 25 and Kailan Chadbone, 20, were each sentenced to years in jail at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, May 29 for supplying and dealing drugs on the streets of Oxford.
Kaveh, of Lambourn Road in Oxford, and Hughes, of Woodperry Road, played ‘significant’ roles in an ‘open line’ class A drugs operation in Blackbird Leys between November 2024 and last November, the court heard.
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Kaveh was previously in court in 2021 after pulling out a ‘Rambo’ knife in a stabbing incident in Lambourn Road in Rose Hill in November 2020 which resulted in a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years.
Between them, they supplied around 4.6kg of crack cocaine and heroin to the drugs line.
Police raids on Hughes’ home also found 232g powder cocaine and 2.338kg of cannabis, for which he was sentenced for possession with intent to supply, along with a quantity of cash, drugs paraphernalia and weapons.
Raids on Kaveh’s property found similar equipment and drugs like heroin and diamorphine, with a total street value of more than £100,000.
It was established the two dealers worked for Emman Riasat, who ran his own drug line in Oxford and wholesale supplied drugs to the line operating out of Blackbird Leys.
Hughes received a jail sentence of six years and nine months for two counts of class A drug supply and two counts of possession, while Kaveh was jailed for seven years and six months for two counts of class A drug supply.
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Also working for Riasat was Chadbone, of Bernwood Road, who worked lower down in the operation as a drugs runner.
He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and diamorphine between August 1 and November 19, 2025, committed while he was serving a suspended sentence for affray.
Chadbone received a total of 45 months in jail for two counts of drug supply and the breach of a previous suspended sentence.
‘Sundays in the Park’ took place in Garth Park on May 31, thanks to a collaboration between Bicester Town Council and Bicester Live.
Visitors enjoyed performances from Ukesnaile, Bicester Concert Band, and Malish, offering a variety of covers from pop to garage.
Food was provided by Garth Park Kitchen, with options like British bockwurst, halloumi buns, and wood-fired cheeseburgers, while others brought their own picnics to enjoy in the sunshine.
The council’s events team said: “We can’t wait to welcome you all for an afternoon of live music, great food, and community fun in the beautiful surroundings of Garth Park.”
The next ‘Sundays in the Park’ event will be held on June 14, featuring Hook Norton Brass Band and local soloists, starting at 12.30pm.
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