A petition has been launched to remove illegally dumped waste from a secluded section of coastline after more than five years.

Fossil hunter Daniel Hogburn is collecting signatures for the Eastchurch Gap on the Isle of Sheppey.

The 48-year-old, who has been an active campaigner for the site, launched the petition on Tuesday (March 18).

He was prompted after seeing the impact the collection of more than 13,000 signatures had on Hoads Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Ashford.

It had been described as a “desolate wasteland” plagued by 12ft high mounds of rotting rubbish – which is now set to be removed after a huge public campaign.

Daniel says he hopes to get the Sheppey beach, which is also an SSSI, back to its natural state as best as possible.

“It'll never be restored to the same as it was in the beginning,” he explained.

“That's just not going to happen. But the least we can do is try.

“You can't just leave it to wash out and contaminate the oceans and wildlife. Something needs to be done.

“It’s a huge pile to move. That whole stretch of coastline needs to have a deep cleanse.”

The industrial-scale fly-tipping, which began in December 2019, has caused significant and permanent damage.

It has even affected other beaches nearby, with lumps of concrete, plastic, rubble and asbestos pieces washing up on shores.

Eastchurch was once a secluded section of coastline used by fishermen, fossil collectors, holidaymakers, dog walkers and hikers.

Daniel added: “The beaches are the Island’s main asset. It’s where our tourism began.

“To trash them like that – I don't understand how it could go on for so long.

“It’s just not fair. It's got to be cleared up or else it'll be washing out for the next 50, 60, 70 years.”

The online petition explains how residents reported up to thirty lorries visiting the site daily, many of which weren’t road-legal.

It said: “One resident complained he couldn't even open his windows to let air in or hang their washing out as the dust from the lorries driving up and down their unmade road was horrendous.

"Even the engine bay in his car was caked in dust.

"Many more complained of potholes left in the roads by the tipper trucks, trucks hurtling past as early as 4am and reckless driving down the local country lanes.

“Local businesses, organisations and volunteers continue to mobilise and give up hours, even days of their time, desperately trying to counter this tragedy which now plagues this whole stretch of coastline, including our Blue Flag beaches, with both processed and builders waste.

"The amount of micro and macro plastics is shocking, particularly after strong onshore winds and high tides.”

KentOnline first spoke to Daniel in March 2023, who had raised his concerns about the site.

The fossil hunter, who has lived on the Island all his life, was left feeling physically sick after watching trucks tip rubbish off the clifftops.

As a result, he set up the North Sheppey Coastal Conservation and Preservation Community on Facebook.

Access to the land was restricted in June 2023 by the Environment Agency.

A warning notice was displayed and concrete blocks were put up at the entrance.

It has been renewed twice and the current order, which was signed at Folkestone Magistrates' Court in November, is active until June.

Despite this, campaigners are calling for the rubbish to be removed as soon as possible.

The Kent Wildlife Trust is one of the organisations supporting the petition.

Advocacy manager Sally Smith said: “The Eastchurch Gap has been a victim of mass waste dumping, on an organised crime scale.

“The impact is quite far-reaching because the waste is being washed into the sea constantly.

“We've seen pictures from several months ago where tyres and other waste on the seafront.

“We sent a drone over a few weeks ago and there's none there. So where has that waste gone? It's gone out into the sea.”

She added: “It has precious salt marshes, there's seagrass which the birds are feeding on and it’s impacting that habitat.

“The birds will be feeding on microplastics. It's working its way into their ecosystem.”

At the time of writing, the petition has more than 900 signatures.

If you’d like to find out more or contribute, please click here.

“This is organised crime. Criminals like these take advantage of the public and businesses, who believe them to be removing their waste legitimately.”

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “A criminal investigation continues in order to bring before the courts more waste criminals using Kent as a dumping ground for waste for profit.

“This is organised crime. Criminals like these take advantage of the public and businesses, who believe them to be removing their waste legitimately.

“They shamelessly dump it at beauty spots like Eastchurch, Hoads Wood and others, spoiling the countryside, making it someone else’s problem to clear up – and make money from it.

“We will make sure those responsible will answer for their actions.

“Anyone with new concerns or information relating to suspected waste crime can call our incident hotline on 0800 807060, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

“Information given to either number will be treated confidentially.”