Oxford News
Public warned as work starts on Oxfordshire rubbish mountain
Last year, the dumping of a 150-metre-long mountain of waste in a field alongside the A34 in Kidlington, raising risks of pollution into the nearby river, provoked widespread outrage.
The Environment Agency previously declared a critical incident over the fly-tip, and immediately attended the site on July 2, 2025, after an initial report was made.
Four men have since been arrested in connection with the dumping and remain under formal investigation, but no charges have been brought forward yet.
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In early February, eight trees were removed from around the site entrance to enable lorries, which will remove the waste, to access the site.
Yorkshire firm Acumen Waste Services won the £8m contract to remove the waste, which is very close to the River Cherwell.
Now, the final steps are being made to prepare the site to be cleared of the mountain pile of illegally dumped rubbish.
A statement from the Environment Agency said: “The site set up is progressing as planned.
“The base layer of aggregate over the saturated ground to enable heavy vehicle access is now complete, and track matting is being laid.
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“This will ensure lorries taking waste away can easily access and leave the site, even if we get further rain.”
With the new update, the Environment Agency warned members of the public not to enter the site.
“Please do not enter the site,” a statement said.
“It is dangerous to climb on the waste; you are putting yourself at risk and compromising the criminal investigation, which is a criminal offence. There is 24-hour surveillance in place.”
The footpath from the Bicester Road in Gosford to the East side of the A34 has also been temporarily closed by Oxfordshire County Council.
This is due to the illegal waste deposit and is “in the interests of public safety”, says the Environment Agency.
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Callum Miller, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, welcomed the news with a statement today (Thursday, April 2).
“Work to prepare the waste site for clearance is moving forward, with temporary access measures now being put in place and monitoring equipment installed to help manage fire risk,” he said.
“This should allow for ease to be removed regardless of any weather changes, and it is good to see progress finally being made on site.
“Residents have waited far too long for action, and I hope this work can now be completed as quickly and safely as possible.
“There must also be proper accountability for those responsible for the disruption and distress caused to the local community and environment.”
Named the ‘Mini.01’, the vehicle will be delivered to the client in the United States, while it was produced at the firm’s plant in Oxford.
The car features a triple-layered two-tone paint finish in Midnight Black and a unique shade of metallic green chosen by the customer.
It comes equipped with 18-inch JCW Rallye Spoke alloy wheels, a two-tone rear diffuser, a Union Jack soft-top fabric roof, black door mirrors with white stripes and a ‘Mini Super Special 001’ wording located on the front wheel arch.
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Inside, there are green-coloured accents found on the seat inserts, toggle bar trim, the dashboard strap and Harman Kardon speaker surrounds.
There is a matte white finish around the air vents, cupholders and door handles, while the ‘Mini.01’ badge can be found on the steering wheel, wireless phone charger and floor mats.
Meanwhile, the door sills are complemented by illuminated ‘Mini Super Special 001’ inscriptions on the scuff plates.
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Markus Grüneisl, CEO of Mini’s Oxford and Swindon plant, said: “This custom-crafted John Cooper Works Convertible represents a fantastic collaboration between the Mini product and design teams, the local market, and Plant Oxford production.
“We’re delighted with the result and craftsmanship that showcases what our team in the UK can achieve.”
The Mini.01 is just a one-off special, though the firm has not revealed how much the American customer paid for this unique creation.
The Corner House in Hollow Way, Headington, was built in the mid-1930s and remains a trading pub in the present day, despite rumours a decade ago it would be turned into a convenience store.
In 2015, New River Retail applied to change the use of the pub so it could be turned into a convenience store.
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However in that same year local people successfully nominated it as an Asset of Community Value and the change of use did not occur.
Currently, it is reported that the New River Retail lease the pub to Marston’s PLC, which operates more than 1,300 pubs and inns across Great Britain.
However, this week it was put up for a £707,500 sale by Savills UK.
Its listing stated: “The property comprises the basement, ground and first floors of a two-storey detached building, together with a single-storey extension, with painted elevations beneath a pitched roof.
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“The property has an approximate site area of 0.124 of an acre.”
Its business rates value is £15,000 and its let to Marston’s Plc does not expire until November 2031 with a passing rent of £43,473 per annum.
The Corner House has a 4.2-star rating based on over 200 Google reviews and hosts regular karaoke and live music evenings.
Lombard Road in Abingdon, between East St Helen Street and West St Helen Street, will be shut from July 3 to July 7 to allow Oxfordshire County Council to carry out footway slurry works.
The closure is being put in place in the interests of ‘public safety’.
In a social media post, Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council said: “A Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and restriction and will operate on the days shown above.”
Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor.
For more information about the works, contact Tim Belton at Oxfordshire County Council on 07812 237621.
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