🔗 Share this article Illegal dumpers submerge open land in massive pile of waste Local resident The site has been called an "environmental catastrophe". Correspondent surveyed the scene and reported the heap appeared to be "20ft high at least". Illegal dumpers have discarded a mountain of garbage in a open space in Oxfordshire. The "environmental crisis occurring in plain sight" is up to 150m (490ft) extending and 6m (20ft) in height. The enormous pile has materialized in a field alongside the River Cherwell near Kidlington. A local MP highlighted the situation in parliament, declaring it was "threatening an environmental disaster". An environmental charity said the illegal rubbish dump was formed approximately a recently by an criminal network. "This represents an ecological disaster developing in public view. "Each day that elapses increases the threat of toxic drainage reaching the aquatic network, poisoning wildlife and threatening the condition of the whole watershed. "The Environment Agency must take action promptly, not in extended periods, which is their standard response period." Access ban had been established by the regulatory body. It is difficult to identify any specific pieces of waste as it seems to have been broken up with soil combined. A portion of the garbage from the peak of the mound has collapsed and is now merely five feet from the waterway. The River Cherwell is a tributary of the River Thames, which signifies it flows through Oxford before connecting with the Thames. Parliament TV Parliament representative mentioned the expense of disposing of the garbage would be high The representative asked the government for support to clear the illegal site before it resulted in a inferno or was swept into the river system. Informing MPs on Thursday, he said: "Criminals have dumped a massive amount of illegal synthetic materials... weighing many tons, in my district on a riverside area adjacent to the River Cherwell. "River levels are rising and temperature readings indicate that the waste is also heating up, raising the danger of fire. "The Environment Agency stated it has limited funding for regulation, that the anticipated expense of removal is higher than the entire yearly budget of the regional government." Government official said the authorities had inherited a underperforming recycling sector that had caused an "growing issue of illegal dumping". She informed MPs the authority had issued a restriction order to halt further entry to the area. In a declaration, the agency stated it was examining the matter and appealed for information. It stated: "We acknowledge the public's concern about situations like this, which is why we take action against those responsible for waste crime." A recently published investigation determined initiatives to address serious illegal dumping have been "extremely neglected" notwithstanding the problem becoming more extensive and more advanced. Government advisors suggested an independent "root and branch" inquiry into how "widespread" illegal dumping is tackled.