Tom Edwardsand

Elliot Ball,in Peopleton

BBC A close up image of a large pile of waste which extends out into the distance of the photograph. The waste is made up of wood, plastic and other bits of household waste. There is a yellow JCB truck in the background. BBC

The Environmental Agency said Stone Arrow Farm was suspected of “illegal waste-dumping activity”

A farmer whose land has been described as an “environmental horror” has admitted waste dumping on his property has been “completely out of hand” and has promised to have it removed in the next few months.

It comes after the Environment Agency (EA) confirmed it was investigating Stone Arrow Farm, owned by Carl Powell in Peopleton, Worcestershire, for possible “illegal waste-dumping activity”.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Powell claimed it was his tenant who was responsible for the tipping saying: “I repeatedly said to my tenant, ‘You know, you must control what’s going on up there’, but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.”

The BBC has contacted Mr Powell’s tenant for comment.

The EA has also confirmed it is looking into two other sites for the same crime.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Illegal waste crime scars our communities and is something we’re committed to tackling in Worcestershire.

“The Environment Agency is working with local councils and the police to investigate suspected illegal waste activity at several sites in the south east Worcestershire area, including at Stone Arrow Farm in Peopleton, Haselor Lane in Evesham and Mill Lane near Wadborough.

“Together we’re pulling every lever available to us to disrupt those who profit from the harm illegal waste sites cause.”

An elderly man stands on muddy and rocky land holding two white signs. The first sign reads: "As seen on Jeremy Vine Tuesday 16 March A brilliant interviewer but a lousy dancer." The second sign, which is slightly larger and resting on his feet, reads: "Welcome to Peopleton a murderous lawless godforsaken place probably, most definitely the nastiest village in Worcesteshire."

Carl Powell was previously in the news for labelling Peopleton the “nastiest” village in Worcestershire

Discussing activity at his farm, Mr Powell, who was previously in the news in 2021 for naming the village of Peopleton the “nastiest in the county, said: “I took my eye off the ball.

“I hadn’t been up here for quite a long time, about a month ago I came up, the village seemed quite upset about it (waste), but I do feel that they are over the top with it.

“We’re hoping to get it resolved and carry on here, perhaps in a smaller way, and hopefully then the village will be agreeable to what we’re doing here.

“I don’t want to upset anybody, but we need to carry on here as we all know that the increase in farm incomes is not from farming but it is from diversification.”

A green metal gate stretches across the entrance to the land. A white sign with red writing reads: "Notice to all driver no tipping."

Mr Powell said his signs asking people not to tip waste on his land had “been adhered to”

Mr Powell said he had since erected signs stating that it is forbidden to fly-tip on the land, which he said had “been adhered to” and the lorries on site were taking waste out, not bringing it in.

“So the waste will all be cleared from here. I’m not a limited liability company, I’m a sole trader,” he said.

“If my tenant doesn’t clear this site I will and I’ll stand the cost. Give us two or three months.

“I’ll repeat, I’ve taken my eye off the ball, I hold my hands up to what’s gone on here, it is out of hand, but I’m on it.”