Mountain of illegally-dumped waste is set to be moved from Bowbridge Road, Newark

Residents who have lived near a mountain of illegally-dumped waste for four years could finally see it removed.

An estimated 2,000 tonnes of material ­— believed to include inert household and commercial waste ­— has been stored at 293 Bowbridge Road, Newark, without permission.

An appeal against a Nottinghamshire County Council notice ordering the site’s clearance has been dismissed.

The council issued an enforcement notice on landowner Newark Care (Notts) Ltd in May 2018, ordering the waste to be removed, but it was appealed by the landowner.

In dismissing the appeal, planning inspector J. A. Murray ordered that no further waste should be deposited on the site and all existing material must be removed within three months.

Waste started to appear on the site in February 2015 and was subject of an investigation by the Environment Agency as part of a nationwide operation.

Samples indicated the waste, stacked in blue and white synthetic hessian bulk bags, is mainly plastics.

There is also medical waste such as sanitary towels and saline bags, as well as metals, fabrics, timber, cardboard, paper, other packaging, building materials, soils, and there is some contamination with food waste.

Environmental health officers at Newark and Sherwood District Council received complaints about odour, flies and vermin infestation.

Terry Lowe, who lives opposite the site, said: “It’s about time it all got shifted. It has a very distinct smell, especially when it’s hot.”

Susan Byrne said: “I’m very happy it’s finally getting sorted. It has been a very long time coming. It all absolutely stinks. It’s unbearable.

“I shudder to think what rats and vermin they will find when they move it.”

Julie Sullivan said: “I’m very happy to hear it’s getting sorted. It’s an eyesore.”

The area’s county councillor, Keith Girling said: “I’m thrilled that common sense prevailed and that we have a resolution in sight.”

Chris Barnfather, chairman of the county council’s planning and licensing committee, said: “I am pleased with the planning inspector’s decision to dismiss the appeal, which I am sure will come as a relief to the residents and businesses who have had to live in the shadow of this unauthorised waste site for more than three years.

“Like them, I look forward to the site being cleared and restored as soon as possible.

“The dumping and unauth-orised storage of waste is a growing, national problem which blights communities and I welcome initiatives by the Environment Agency to seek out and prosecute those responsible.”

Alan Batty, business manager ­— public protection at the district council, also welcomed the inspector’s decision.

He said: “I have met with the site owner and local councillors in efforts to identify a solution to the problem.

“We provided evidence to the county council in support of their case at the appeal and we are now looking forward to some positive action to allow the site to be cleared.”

The land is allocated for 66 homes.

It had planning permission, which is now lapsed, for a 64-bedroom nursing home.