Fly-tippers have targeted a former railway station by dumping a five-foot wall of rubbish in what locals have labelled an ‘abhorrent mess.’
Rubbish has been piled high on land at Flitch Way, by the former Felsted station near Dunmow in Essex, with items including furniture, packaging and fridges stretching more than 80 metres.
The site – which was previously cleared by Uttlesford District Council – has been the subject of illegal fly-tipping for more than 10 years, however, villagers say it is now worse than ever.
More than 30 residents have posted online about the increasing fly-tipping at the station, which was on the old Braintree to Bishop’s Stortford branch and closed in 1964.
One called it a ‘total disgrace’ that the site had been spoiled by rubbish, while another labelled it a ‘complete eyesore.’
They said: ‘It is abhorrent to see this mess. This is what was, and could still be, a beautiful historic building.
‘It could be turned into a cafe or restaurant, a bit like Rayne station has just down the line.’
Braintree cyclist Aiden Kelly added: ‘I think people are angry that the council doesn’t appear to be doing anything.
‘The house was renovated to a high standard and now it’s just a shell.’
Kelly called fly-tipping a ‘blight’ on Flitch Way, as reported by the BBC, however added that ‘no one seems bothered’ despite it now being a big issue.
The site is currently for sale and marketed by Auction House East Anglia at £700,000.
Auction House said eight homes have now been granted construction on the site after detailed planning permission was granted.
A spokesperson for Uttlesford Council said they will ‘take direct action to clear and secure’ the site if it does not sell.
They said: ‘The preferred approach is the sale of the site with conditions requiring it to be cleared and secured within a short time frame, with safeguards allowing the council to step in if this does not happen.
‘If the sale completes, the site will be cleared within three weeks, and we will work alongside the new owners to secure it and deter further fly-tipping.
‘If it does not sell, we will take direct action to clear and secure the site.
‘We remain committed to resolving this matter and preventing further harm to the area.’
