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Massive flytipping on land off Berwick Way near Upnor, Medway

15:21, 22 October 2021

updated: 11:11, 25 October 2021

A businessman has told of his shock at returning from his holiday home to discover a mini-mountain range of flytipping.

Well-known car boot sale boss Mark Greenfield says he's been stunned by the sheer size of the dumping.

Shocked Mark Greenfield speaks about the flytipping

The dad-of-three was taking down banners from his site near Upnor when he noticed 25 large mounds on a neighbouring field.

Upon closer inspector, he discovered an estimated "500 tons" of construction and household waste in similar-sized piles.

The 59-year-old, who was on a flying visit home from his property in Alicante, "couldn't believe it".

He said: "I was shocked. I've obviously seen flytipping before but this is off the scale.

"You come up here and look and it's like a proper commercial tip, rather than a farmer's field.

Car boot businessman Mark Greenfield with the discarded saucepan
Car boot businessman Mark Greenfield with the discarded saucepan

"Where has it all come from? It looks like a dustcart has arrived here and unloaded."

Mr Greenfield has operated his weekend car boot sale on the neighbouring 20-acre site for the past 12 years.

He says the only real problem there's been in recent times was the arrival of 60 traveller caravans three years ago.

But that was over quite quickly following council and police enforcement action.

The dumpers, who must have made multiple visits, entered though a gate off Berwick Way approaching the city estate.

Some of the mounds of rubbish left dumped
Some of the mounds of rubbish left dumped
Some of the mounds of rubbish left dumped
Some of the mounds of rubbish left dumped

Speaking next to one of the piles, which included a saucepan and a self-help book, he added: "Somebody must have seen something.

"They can't have come in here several times and done this without someone spotting it."

A friend of his with knowledge of waste removal estimates there are 500 tons which could take as many as 25 lorry trips to remove.

Mr Greenfield says the cost of this could run to more than £40,000.

It is not clear who would be responsible as he believes the farmer rents the land from the Church of England.

The flytippers came through the gate to the field off Berwick Way
The flytippers came through the gate to the field off Berwick Way

"You have to ask yourself 'where was all this before it was dumped here?' Somebody must know something," he added.

KentOnline has contacted the farmer for comment and Medway Council to see if it has received a report.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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