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Kidlington illegal waste clean up officially begins

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Some 21,000 tonnes of commercial and household waste including tyres, shredded plastic and household rubbish is being removed starting Tuesday, April 14.

Specialist teams from Acumen Waste Services will work “at pace”, shifting between 15 to 30 lorry loads a day to clear the site and tackle the damage caused by organised criminal gangs.

Work in Kidlington has commenced ahead of the dump clearance (Image: Environemnt Agency)

The clean up is expected to last about six months.

Criminals dumped the waste across 8,000 square metres of land near the A34 in Kidlington – an area larger than the pitch at Wembley Stadium.

Environment Agency officers shut down the site in October 2025, months after it was first reported to Cherwell Council in June.

READ MORE: Body of woman, 48, found dead in park

Anna Burns, Environment Agency area director for the Thames region, said: “Today marks a major step in clearing the Kidlington site and restoring the area for local people.

“We are working to remove this waste as quickly as possible while continuing our investigation to bring those responsible to justice. Waste criminals should be in no doubt – this type of crime will not go unpunished.”

Emma Reynolds (UK Parliament/PA) (Image: (UK Parliament/PA))

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: “The illegal waste dump in Kidlington is disgraceful. I have seen the immense scale of the site, which I am proud to say the government is now clearing up.

“There has already been significant progress, with four arrests made in connection to the site.”

Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, added: “It is a relief to everyone to see work begin in earnest to get this eyesore removed.”

She said a “huge” amount of planning and preparation has taken place between all involved to get the waste cleared.

“We all look forward to the day when all the waste has been removed and this corner of Oxfordshire can be restored to normality for people and wildlife alike,” she said.

Liz Leffman (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

The Environment Agency continues to progress its criminal investigation into the illegal dumping of waste at Kidlington.

Since the dumping took place, four people all from outside of Oxfordshire have already been arrested by the Environment Agency.

The waste was first due to be removed in February, but this was pushed back a couple of times due to persistent rainfall over the winter.

No further waste spilled into the nearby river as protection was put up around the dump.

In preparation of the clean-up, a makeshift road using stone was put in place from the road to the dump so that lorries don’t get bogged down in the mud.

And eight trees had to be removed so the lorries can access the dump, too.





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Crime & Safety

Named ‘delivery rider’ guilty of Oxfordshire cocaine dealing

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Leonardo Silvestre, aged 23 and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of class A, namely cocaine, at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Monday (April 13).

He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 12.

READ MORE: Oxford mental health nurse faces possible ban amid misconduct hearing

This follows his arrest on April 10 at Denchworth Road, Wantage.

Thames Valley Police said they stopped a male “posing as a food‑delivery rider after suspicious behaviour caught our attention”.

The force added: “That instinct paid off — during a search we recovered 16 wraps of cocaine and over £1,000 in cash. All seized.”

Cocaine found by police after the arrest on Denchworth Road, Wantage (Image: Thames Valley Police)

The police team said that this was part of their ongoing crackdown on drugs in Wantage.

They said: “Our recent survey told us loud and clear that our community wants us to focus on drug-related activity—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Over the next few days they had several other encounters with possible drugs offenders, including arresting a man, reportedly mid drug deal, on April 11, at Naldertown in Wantage.

The bike taken after the arrest on Denchworth Road, Wantage (Image: Thames Valley Police)

The force said: “As a result, a 22-year-old male from outside the area was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

“Drugs and cash were located on him, and his vehicle was seized.”

That man has since been released on police bail until June 26.

On April 12 they saw another man engaging in drug-related activity in Wantage with the suspect running from the police officers.

“Despite our best efforts—and assistance from the police helicopter—we were unable to locate him,” the police said.

Police make a drugs-related arrest in Wantage (Image: Thames Valley Police)

They added: “However, we did seize his vehicle, along with cash and significant items inside.”

As of Friday, April 17 no arrests have been made in the case.

In one of their updates the Wantage and Grove neighbourhood police team warned that much of the drugs activity in the area relates to ‘county lines’.

READ MORE: ‘Very successful’ musician puts forward music studio at new Cotswolds home

The police explained: “It’s when organised drug networks from big cities push into smaller towns, exploiting vulnerable people to move drugs and money. It brings violence, fear and exploitation into communities that deserve better.

“This is one of several arrests we’ve made recently. Every time county lines tries to creep into Wantage, we’ll be there — and we’ll stop them.

“A huge thank‑you to our fantastic colleagues from Abingdon and Faringdon neighbourhood police teams for backing us up. Teamwork keeps our communities safe.”





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Illegal Citreon Picasso seized on A41 by Oxfordshire town

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Thames Valley Police said they confiscated the vehicle today (Friday, April 17) as it was on the roads uninsured.

In addition to the vehicle seizure, the driver has been reported.

A spokesperson for the Roads Policing team said: “First vehicle seizure of the late shift today by XRC01 on the A41 near Bicester.

READ MORE: Vauxhall seized as motorist drives from Oxfordshire police

“Driver was going to get around to insuring it at the weekend. Vehicle seized. Driver reported.”

This follows an incident on Wednesday, April 15 when a Vauxhall car was confiscated by Thames Valley Police.

The police attempted to talk to the driver of the car who then “made off” after which the car was located and recovered from its registered address.





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Oxford expert’s sunscreen warning as heatwave predicted

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Dr Tina Tian, a consultant dermatologist at Stratum Dermatology Clinic Oxford, has provided advice on how to encourage children to wear sunscreen amid a warning about leaving kid’s skin unprotected.

This not only comes ahead of Melanoma Awareness Month (May) but also with a heatwave predicted for much of the south of England.

READ MORE: Named ‘delivery rider’ pleads guilty after cocaine arrest in Oxfordshire town

The Daily Express has said that temperatures in counties, including Oxfordshire, could soon soar to up to 23°C, citing the latest ECMWF weather model.

Its data reveals temperatures are likely to peak on April 29.

Considering this Dr Tian and Dr Ross Perry, GP and medical director of Cosmedics, have highlighted the importance of encouraging children to wear sunscreen.

Dr Perry said: “Children’s skin is significantly more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin.

“The outer barrier isn’t fully developed, which means ultraviolet (UV) radiation penetrates more easily and can cause damage at a deeper cellular level.

Photo of a past heatwave in Oxford (Image: Ed Nix)

“What many people don’t realise is that a proportion of lifetime sun damage actually occurs before the age of 18.

“Even a handful of serious sunburns in childhood can increase the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, later in life.”

Dr Tian agrees with Dr Perry and has provided some advice on how to encourage children to wear sunscreen.

This includes making it part of their routine, involving them in the process and turning it into a game.

Dr Tian said: “I often ask my daughter what kind of face she wants me to paint with the sunscreen to try to make it more fun.”

She also suggested non-stinging sunscreen.

“When sunscreen gets into children’s eyes, it can really sting so look out for sunscreen that is labelled as non-stinging,” she advised.

“The P20 one is really good due to the fact that it’s so water-resistant, so it doesn’t really move and won’t migrate into the eyes and make them sting.”

The experts also advised explaining why it’s important, using age-appropriate language, and to make it a reciprocal process.

READ MORE: UK pothole campaigner speaks out after Transport Minister’s Oxfordshire crash

Dr Tian said: “With my son I find it really helpful to get him to put some sunscreen on me first to make it a bit of a reciprocal thing.”

Finally, she suggested letting children play with the lids and to warm up the cream beforehand.

She said: “A lot of sun creams have lids and you can draw funny faces on the lid and let your kids play with it while you’re doing the cream.”

She added: “Sun cream often feels very cold, so it can help to warm it up in your hands a bit before you start putting it on your child so it’s not too much of a shock for them.”





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