The meeting was to assess progress on the investigation, discuss safety concerns raised by residents and coordinate next steps.
The Agency confirmed that officers remain on the ground, maintaining a visible presence at the site and continuing to monitor water run-off into the River Cherwell.
Anna Burns, the EA’s Area Director for The Thames, commented: “I share the public’s complete disgust at this shocking case of environmental crime.
“We took immediate action to stop the illegal tipping in Kidlington, and working with partners across Oxfordshire, we are hunting down those responsible to deliver justice for the local community.
“We have several lines of inquiry we are pursuing, and I urge the public to contact the police or the Environment Agency with any information.”
First response in July 2025
According to the EA, officers first attended the Kidlington site on 2 July 2025 following reports of tipping on land between the River Cherwell and the A34.
The landowner was identified, and the EA issued a cease-and-desist letter to prevent further activity.
However, criminal tipping continued into the autumn. After officers uncovered evidence of ongoing waste deposits in October, the EA sought a court order to shut down the site.
The order was granted on 23 October 2025, and the EA confirmed that no further tipping has taken place since.
Thames Valley Police Chief Superintendent Ben Clark said: “The Environment Agency is responsible for investigating and prosecuting offences related to environmental crime such as this, and we will continue to support them in finding and prosecuting whoever has done this.”
The EA emphasised that the site remains both hazardous and a live crime scene. Members of the public have been urged to stay away for their own safety and to avoid compromising the investigation.
Hundreds of tonnes of waste dumped
As reported earlier this week, vast mound of plastic and mixed waste, estimated at around 150 metres long and up to six metres high, was dumped across the floodplain.
The heap, believed to weigh hundreds of tonnes, contains plastic, wood, foam and other materials.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, added: “Along with our partners, we have been dealing with this awful environmental crime for several months.
“An incident of this scale has obviously caused considerable problems for all parties involved.
“With winter coming, we are continuing to work urgently work with the Environment Agency, Cherwell District Council and National Highways in the shorter term in order to facilitate mitigation and environmental protection measures, especially for the River Cherwell.”
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