Crackdowns at a legal tipping site and continuing measures at an illegal dumping hotspot have been welcomed by senior area leaders.

A legal site at Warden Point on the Isle of Sheppey has been told to cease tipping immediately after its landowner failed to comply with Environmental Agency (EA) conditions.

It is unknown what conditions have been broken however the landowner has been informed and advised all waste-tipping activities should stop.

“If waste tipping continues we will work with Swale council and police to identify who is responsible and consider further enforcement action,” an EA spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, the public body has applied to extend a restriction order at the end of Third Avenue, known locally as Eastchurch Gap, for a further six months.

The original order was put in place at the end of June and prohibits anyone from entering or depositing waste on-site and ends on Wednesday, December 30.

Cllr Mike Whiting, who represents the Isle of Sheppey at Kent County Council, fears if the order is not extended lorries will return to tipping waste onto the beaches.

Cllr Whiting (Con) said: “My concern is that the original order was time-sensitive and that the dumping would restart again.

“Locals have started to see lorries going back up to the areas so there is some fear.

“Therefore this update comes as some comfort and I am grateful for the Environmental Agency to put forward the application.

“If it goes ahead this will continue to protect our beaches in the area.”

The prohibition came after three years of battles to see access prohibited after complaints from residents.

Beach-goers were left “horrified” after seeing a “staggering” amount of rubbish and building waste dumped at Eastchurch Gap in May.

Fossil hunter Daniel Hogburn told KentOnline in March that he was left feeling physically sick after watching trucks tip waste onto the beach.

The 46-year-old, from Minster, said at the time: “Having spent hundreds of hours over the last 10 years cleaning up this Site of Special Scientific Interest coastline I feel deeply saddened and physically sick at the actions.”

MP for Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey, Gordon Henderson, says he is “delighted” with the update but has called for further action.

He said: “I am delighted that the EA is still taking the problem seriously and I will be putting pressure on them to solve the problem once and for all.

“I will also be discussing the matter with the Chief Executive and Leader of Swale Borough Council when I meet them on Friday this week.”

Since the order was put in place an access gate has been locked and the EA has placed a warning notice at the entrance.

The application will go in front of Medway Magistrates’ Court next Wednesday (December 20). If successful, the signage at the entrance gate will be renewed.

The EA have also launched an investigation into a vehicle which was seen on Tuesday, November 28 at 4.30pm.

When the investigation is completed the agency will consider enforcement action.

To report anything suspicious contact the EA on their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.