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Pressure mounts over fly-tipping at Barnfield Park near New Ash Green and West Kingsdown

Pressure has been put on KCC to clear a large heap of rubbish dumped near a travellers' site.

Around 600 metres of fly-tipping was found along the entrance to Barnfield Park near New Ash Green and West Kingsdown.

Fly-tipping concerns have been raised with the council along the access road to Barnfield Park, near New Ash Green
Fly-tipping concerns have been raised with the council along the access road to Barnfield Park, near New Ash Green

Discarded litter has been thrown onto a large field and road verges, including fridges, broken glass, mattress springs and dirty nappies. Concrete blocks have been put in place as a deterrent.

Sevenoaks Green Party member Laura Manston has published an open letter to County Hall chiefs online, calling for swift action to be taken after a visit last week.

Ms Manston, a mum-of-four web manager, said it was "desperately sad" and "frustrating" for residents.

She said: "Once again the council has said we are on it when they are clearly not at all.

"Nothing has changed in 20 years so how can we have any confidence it will be dealt with.

Concrete barriers have been installed to deter more rubbish being dumped
Concrete barriers have been installed to deter more rubbish being dumped

"This is another example of the gypsy and traveller community being sidelined."

KCC manages the Ash Road caravan park, which it acquired planning powers over in the 1990s, and pitches are occupied with 999-year leases.

The authority says it intends to clear the site as "soon as practical" after securing much-needed funding for the removal of the waste.

A KCC spokesman said: “The site entrance has been cleared of fly-tipped material, where hazardous waste, such as refrigerators and asbestos sheeting had been dumped.

“The concrete blocks have been placed where the tipping had been present to serve as a deterrent against further tipping."

Some of the fly-tipping has been removed but nesting birds prevent a total clearance
Some of the fly-tipping has been removed but nesting birds prevent a total clearance

The authority says that further clearing of the site cannot be done until August to protect nesting birds.

Last week, former KCC chairman, Sevenoaks Conservative candidate David Brazier said that work would likely be delayed until the Autumn, but he added there would be "no complacency" on the authority's part.

Calling for swift action, Ms Manston said: "I would like to see a solution once and for all that puts the welfare of Barnfield Park residents at the centre."

It comes four weeks ahead of the KCC local elections as more than 300 candidates have been fielded across 81 seats at County Hall.

Three candidates have been nominated for the Sevenoaks Rural North East position, including Ian Walden (Lab), Mr Brazier and Ms Manston.

A poll will be taken from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, May 6.

Earlier this week, we reported how a nearby road had also been closed to clear fly-tipped asbestos.

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