The gargantuan flytip at Brocket Hall, dumped over seven months ago on a wooded right of way through a private estate, still sits undisturbed.
The clearup effort is now estimated by Brocket Hall manager Michael Longshaw to cost in excess of £150,000-£200,000.
The flytip, which spans across acres, was first spotted in June last year.
READ MORE: Jaw-dropping scene of one of Hertfordshire’s biggest flytips
“We haven’t started the clearup as we’re still waiting for the results of quotations,” he explained.
“We’re in discussion with our insurers and we’ve got the area secure,” he said, adding that concrete blocks now prevent vans from accessing the hole in the fence at the layby on Marford Road, through which the flytippers accessed the woodland.
“We won’t be able to clear it until the layby is closed so we won’t be able to do much possibly into the spring,” he said.
He also explained that the wet weather also impedes work.
In the meantime, passers-by continue to be shocked by the scale of the flytip.
One walker, Glenn Wylds, was so surprised that he shared a Facebook video last week of the scene, starting by pretending to knock on a door he found amongst the rubbish.
Opening the ‘doorway’ he reveals the scene and continues to describe it with bittersweet humour.
“Welcome to Brocket Hall,” says Glen. “So, this isn’t just a little bit of rubbish. Just a tad bit of flytipping. It’s mental. I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life. It just goes on for days.”
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency (EA) investigation into the flytip continues.
The EA visited the site soon after the dumping last summer.
“Since then we’ve been reviewing the evidence that we’ve picked up,” said spokesperson Peter O’Connor, describing how officers scrutinise the rubbish for letters, receipts, or other materials that could identify building companies and customers.
“It may well establish whether there is a link to the bigger operation that we are running in the South East.”
The bigger investigation, titled Operation Angola, is spread across London, the Thames Valley, and down into Surrey.
Mr O’Connor urged members of the public to contact the EA if they have any information about the waste dump, by calling for free on 0800 807060.
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