Waste Site Over

Having heard from constituents about tipping across the Forest of Dean, it was important to visit the site at Over and see first-hand how this is affecting the local community. While I have spoken to many residents about this issue, seeing the scale of it in person brought home just how significant the challenge is.

The effect on local and wider communities was evident during my visit, with air quality significantly affected by strong odours and fumes, and part of the site even caught fire, requiring the fire brigade to attend.

This is not an isolated issue, and it underlines the importance of addressing this with real action. I welcome the government’s new strategy and the additional powers being given to the Environment Agency to help tackle these problems more effectively.

I will continue working closely with partners, including the police, the Environment Agency, and local authorities, while pressing for the necessary steps to ensure this is properly addressed.