The government is being urged to pay the full cost of clearing tonnes of dumped rubbish at a historic woodland in Kent.

At the start of the year, the Environment Agency (EA) launched an investigation into how the “disgusting” litter ended up piled across about four acres in Hoad’s Wood, off Bethersden Road, Ashford.

Since the end of January, the woodland, which has been described as a “wasteland”, has been shut to the public, with the agency imposing a strict court order making entry a criminal offence.

Some 27,000 tonnes of waste is scattered amongst the trees, with some parts filled with rubbish up to 25ft deep.

The full cost to clear the site is estimated to be as high as £10 million.

Earl Russell raised the issue yesterday in the House of Lords.

He asked: “Large scale, criminal enterprise fly tipping is out of control and increased by 13% between 2021-2022.

"In areas such as Hoad’s Wood, it was reported that up to 30 trucks of illegal waste were being dumped every day since July last year, with no effective action being taken.

"Campaign groups estimate that it will now cost £10 million to clear the waste.

“Will the government commit to meeting the full cost of this cleanup, and undertake a review into this specific case to assess the resources and effectiveness of enforcement against large scale fly tipping?"

The woodland is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its vast array of birds, insects and trees.

Lord Douglas-Miller responded, saying: “Well, I completely agree with the noble Earl, that the illegal dumping of waste that has happened at Hoad’s Wood is appalling, and a full criminal investigation is underway.

“I'm unable to comment further on the details of that live investigation, as I do not wish to prejudice the potential enforcement action.

"However, I can assure the house that the government is determined to bring those responsible to account specifically on Hoad's Wood.

“The secretary of state has written to the chief executive of the Environment Agency asking him to draw up delivery plans to ensure that appropriate action is taken to resolve this wholly unacceptable situation.

"As part of that, we will consider how best to support the clearance of waste from the site.

“The Environment Agency has powers to recover the cost of action to clear the waste from those responsible.

“The secretary of state has also asked the chief executive of the Environment Agency to review the agency's actions in relation to the site, including what lessons can be learnt for them and other agencies involved in the local partnership.”

Writing in his regular column for our sister newspaper, the Kentish Express this week, Ashford MP Damian Green says “effective action to stop the dumping took too long to introduce”.

He added: “The most important immediate task is to ensure that the rubbish is removed as fast as possible so that the area can be made safe and begin its journey back to being a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest.

“I have been badgering ministers and the Environment Agency about the matter for some time now, as well as chairing the residents’ meetings on the subject.

“I have urged ministers to take any decision that is needed at their level as fast as possible, so the Environment Agency can proceed with the practical organisation on the ground.

“This is important not only for the residents who are rightly enraged by what has happened, but for the long-term future of a beautiful part of the Kent countryside. This must be remedied soon, and lessons learned for the future.”

Last month, our reporter visited Hoad’s Wood and described the stench of decay and neglect as “overwhelming”.

We spoke to a member of the Rescue Hoad’s Wood campaign group who added: “I understand from some residents that there is the smell of rotten eggs in their bedrooms at night.”

The campaign has now received more than 5,000 signatures and has even received support from nature expert Chris Packham, who has called for the immediate clean-up of Hoad’s Wood.

Nature groups including RSPB, Kent Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust wrote a letter in April to the environment secretary, Steve Barclay, for a government grant to fund the clean-up operation.

An extract from the letter reads: “It was painfully clear that the EA prioritised ‘gathering evidence’ over and above the protection of a designated SSSI, using Hoad’s Wood, the wildlife therein and the local community as acceptable collateral damage.

“The illegal felling of the trees in preparation for the site in 2020 and the presence of a single digger preparing the site in July 2023, all of which were reported, should have been ample evidence a criminal act had been perpetrated against an SSSI.

“This should have resulted in an enforcement order that came almost four years too late.”

They have since received a response from environment minister Robbie Moore which reads: “Along with your letter, we have also received correspondence from Damian Green MP, with whom he has met to discuss this issue.

“We share both his and your disappointment at the scale of the situation.

"SoS has been briefed by the Environment Agency, options have been requested, along with delivery plans, for resolving this wholly unacceptable situation."