Crime & Safety
Work intensified at illegal Kidlington dump as date set
A track is being raised out of the saturated ground to give heavy vehicles safe access to the site once waste removal begins.
The Environment Agency says the official clear up will begin in April, some 10 months after it was first reported to Cherwell District Council.
Temporary traffic management measures will be in place outside the site, away from the A34, to manage the flow of traffic and avoid bottlenecks.
There will be a reduced speed limit and two sets of temporary traffic lights, which will be switched on during the site’s operational hours in the day and will only turn red when a lorry is looking to leave the site.
Providing an update on progress so far, a spokesman at the Environment Agency said: “Our contractors have been layering aggregate over the saturated ground to provide a solid base.
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“After this a top layer of finer aggregate will be laid to build site vehicle tracks. A compound and welfare facilities will also be set up for site-based staff.
“We remain on schedule to begin clearing waste in April.”
Geotextile was laid on site ahead of the aggregate being placed for the makeshift road network for the lorries.
This is needed to stop the rubbish-filled lorries, which will remove the 10,000 tonnes of waste, from getting bogged down on the muddy road, caused by persistent rain this winter.
Yorkshire firm Acumen Waste Services won the £8m contract to remove the waste, which is very close to the River Cherwell.
But fencing and bulk sandbags were installed around it to prevent surface water from the drainage ditch entering the site.
Rainfall has hindered progress on removing the pile; Oxfordshire had 188 per cent of the long term average rainfall for January and 178 per cent of long term average rainfall in February.
In early February, eight trees were removed from around the site entrance to enable lorries which will remove the waste access to the site. It had to be done before bird nesting season.
Four men have been arrested in connection with the dumping and remain under a formal investigation. No charges have been brought forward yet.
Environment secretary Emma Reynolds said: “I’ve been in regular conversations with the Environment Agency and strongly welcome the decision to clear the site.
“I will continue working with them to make sure that those responsible pay for their crimes.”
Environment Agency chief executive Philip Duffy added: “Our local teams have been at this site working with partners to reduce harm and minimise risks while we pursue those responsible.”
Oxford Stand Up To Racism has accused Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, of inciting the ‘awful violent scenes’ in Southampton on Tuesday night (June 2).
The city where 18-year-old Henry Nowak died and where his killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived became a scene of destruction after hundreds descended to smash car windows, hurl bricks and cause eleven officers and a police dog to be injured.
READ MORE: New date set for Tommy Robinson appearance in Oxford
Following the disorder, the chief of Hampshire police said those involved were ‘determined to spark fear and division’.
Yaxley-Lennon, who has been jailed multiple times for a variety of offences including when he was imprisoned in October 2024 for contempt of caught, addressed the crowd at the riot.
He said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race.
“A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”
Oxford Stand Up to Racism is now renewing its call for the Oxford Union to withdraw its invitation for the ‘riot agitator’ to speak on June 17 on the subject of Islam.
He was originally due to speak at the historic debating society on Thursday, May 28 before his appearance was postponed over security concerns and after massive backlash.
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Ian McKendrick, a member of the anti-racism group, said: “Despite Henry Nowak’s family clearly requesting that his death should not be used to promote further hatred, Robinson was at the centre of protests in Southampton last night and clearly inciting violence.
“Giving him a televised platform at the Oxford Union legitimises hate and violence, and gives him the opportunity to incite violence to an audience of millions.
“It does not promote free speech – instead, it promotes fear and intimidation among minoritised communities.
“Already we have seen Oxford fascists alongside Robinson in Southampton and now mobilising to bring more hate onto Oxford’s streets.”
Members of Raise the Colours: Oxfordshire were called to attend the Southampton protest on Tuesday night, with the leader of the group posting on Facebook to ask followers to join the ‘justice for Henry Nowak’ protest.
Mr McKendrick added: “There is a concerted effort by far right leaders and fascist groups to incite outrage and bring people on to the streets to riot.
READ MORE: Traffic chaos in Witney amid report of ‘major incident’
“We risk an explosion of violence similar to what we saw around the Southport murders across the UK.
“We’re calling on Oxford to say a clear ‘no’ to this hate and division by protesting against Yaxley-Lennon’s appearance at the Oxford Union.”
Faith and civic leaders of Oxford already wrote to the Oxford Union asking it to rescind the controversial figure’s invitation, and hundreds have signed an open letter calling for the same.
A reported incident at a junction in Witney is causing traffic chaos in the town, with drivers coming off the A40 and elsewhere stuck in long queues.
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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.
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