Oxford News
Photos show major clean up next to A34 at Kidlington
The Environment Agency is on a mission to clear 21,000 tonnes of waste that was illegally dumped in one go in Kidlington.
The massive heap of hazardous rubbish, described by an MP as “threatening an environmental disaster”, stretched 150m and was around 20ft (6m) deep in November last year.
Diggers and lorries can now be seen picking up and clearing rubbish from the site next to the A34 and River Cherwell near Kidlington.
However, the sheer scale of the dump, which is nearly 12 metres high in places and contains plastic, foam, tyres and wood, means the substantial operation will take another five months to complete.
The agency, which declared a critical incident into the enormous pile of waste back in November 2025, started the clean up in April this year.
It has said the total operation is expected to cost around £7 million – but the agency is hoping to reclaim this money in court by seizing money from the criminals who illegally dumped the waste.
To date, four men have been arrested as part of the criminal investigation.
The four men include a 52-year-old man from Ashford, Surrey, who was detained in February, a 39-year-old man from Guildford who was held in November, a 69-year-old man arrested at a property in Andover, Hampshire, and a 54-year-old man arrested in Slough, Berkshire, who were arrested in January.
Green party leader Ian Middleton questioned why there has been no charges yet.
He said: “It’s good to see that the clearance of the site is progressing but disappointing that there have still been no prosecutions of those responsible, despite some early arrests.
“As the work is now underway, I think it’s appropriate for some further reflection on the early involvement of the Environment Agency and for us to ask why more direct action wasn’t taken by them at the time.
“To that end I am writing to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Emma Reynolds – to ask her to implement a public inquiry at the earliest opportunity.”
The dump was first visited by the Environment Agency in July 2025.
Anna Burns, Environment Agency area director for Thames, said the agency had spent time profiling the waste to ensure it was taken to the correct disposal sites, managing the wildlife, ensuring vehicles could come and go quickly and working with the local community and local authority on traffic management.
Work was also delayed slightly by the heavy rain in February, which made the site waterlogged, but Ms Burns said the team was “back on track now”.
“We have taken time to plan so that we can act quickly, and we hope that over the next few weeks we’ll start to see really rapid removal of the waste, with up to 30 lorry loads a day,” she said.
David Wilson Homes’ The Pavilions, located on Bowlers Close, is now over 95 per cent sold, with just seven homes remaining.
The development offers three and four-bedroom properties designed to suit first-time buyers and growing families.
Helen Lewis, managing director at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “We are delighted to announce that we are over 95 per cent sold at The Pavilions and it’s the final opportunity to secure a new home in the community.”
Launched in September 2021, The Pavilions will provide a total of 148 new homes.
The project also includes more than 23 acres of green space, 49 bird and bat boxes, 325 new trees, a wetland meadow, and community allotments.
Ms Lewis added: “We’ve enjoyed great success at the development and it’s been fantastic to see the community take shape.
“We encourage anyone interested in securing a place at The Pavilions to visit our marketing suite to learn more about the properties available.”
More than £750,000 was pledged to support the local area through S106 agreements, including £300,000 for schools and early year education, £186,869 for onsite outdoor sports facilities, and a £34,230 bus infrastructure contribution.
The developer has supported the wider Banbury community through event sponsorships and donations to organisations such as Banbury Men’s Shed and The Let’s Play Project.
All remaining homes are ready to move into, with prices starting from £390,000.
Nearly £38,000 has been donated to Katharine House Hospice in north Oxfordshire over the past 18 months, thanks to recycled metals from cremations at North Oxfordshire Crematorium.
The scheme is part of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) Metals Recycling Scheme, which recycles metals with family consent and donates proceeds to charity.
Vanessa Moor, site manager at North Oxfordshire Crematorium, said: “We are incredibly proud to support Katharine House Hospice through our ICCM charity partnership, recognising it as our essential local charity.
“Many people don’t realise that, with a family’s permission, metals recovered following cremation can be recycled to benefit charities supporting local communities.”
The most recent donation of £17,000 brings the total raised for the hospice to £37,982.
Ms Moor said families frequently speak highly of the care and support they have received from Katharine House.
The partnership extends beyond fundraising, with crematorium staff volunteering at the hospice’s events.
Sue Blank, corporate engagement officer at Katharine House Hospice, said: “We are thrilled to have Memoria’s continued support.
“The team at the North Oxfordshire site are a pleasure to work with and are always keen to support the hospice in any way they can, whether through volunteering, raising awareness of our work or through this fantastic recycling scheme.”
Waylands Volvo Oxford, based on Cumnor Hill, is inviting drivers to test drive the new Volvo EX60 during an exclusive event from August 21-23.
Recently named the UK’s most exciting upcoming new car at the What Car? Awards, the fully electric SUV combines Scandinavian design with advanced technology and sustainability.
Simon Bishop, general manager at Waylands Volvo Oxford, said: “We’re delighted to welcome local drivers for an exclusive first look at the new Volvo EX60 here in Oxford.
“This weekend long event is designed to be much more than a standard test drive, giving customers the chance to experience the technology that makes the EX60 so special.
“Whether it’s trying the latest safety features, seeing how straightforward fast charging can be or exploring the capabilities of Google Gemini, we want every visitor to leave feeling excited and confident about driving electric.”
The Volvo EX60 P12 AWD model offers a range of up to 503 miles on a single charge – the longest of any Volvo to date.
It can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 16 minutes.
Inside, the SUV features a spacious, premium cabin with a dashboard-mounted speaker and four contemporary interiors, all crafted from renewable and recycled materials.
Test drives will be guided by a Volvo specialist, who will demonstrate features such as the 360-degree camera, parking sensors, and driver assistance systems.
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