Criminals create huge fly-tipping site near Rugby - which has been a scar on our landscape for more than a year

The site is close to the Cawston Greenway, a beautiful path that is enjoyed by cyclists and walkers alike.

But just a few yards away lies a disgusting sea of rubbish which goes on as far as the eye can see.

On the banks of the Lias Line - a former rail line - near the A45 are tyres, sofas, bed frames and a range of old furniture has been dumped on an industrial scale. Sustrans has already started opening up parts of the old Lias Line between Rugby and Leamington for a series of projects to create a network of accessible traffic-free greenways connecting the two towns.

But the area south of the Cawston Greenway, near the A45 and Draycote Water, has become a hotspot spot for fly-tipping.

The Advertiser has been down to investigate the site and we were horrified by what we saw.

It appears that someone - or many people - are brazingly using the site to dump household waste. And because the site is hidden away on the old railway line, they have been getting away with it for more than a year.

We walked a few hundred years down the line and saw rubbish all the way all the banks, causing destruction to wildlife and trees.

It is clear that it would need a large scale operation to remove all of the rubbish but the good news is that work is now underway to secure the site, to stop the criminals.

Nearby residents and businesses are sick and tired of the mess and believe it is the work of trucks turning up and dumping household waste down the banks. Local residents who use the Cawston Greenway said they have reported the matter and are fed up that nothing has been done.

We spoke to both Rugby Borough Council and the Environment Agency (EA) to find out what happens next.

It seems that the issue of finding out who owns the land has caused delays but the EA told The Advertiser that they have now spoken to the landowner and action will be taken.

“We have attended this site, and our officers are actively working with the landowner to clear the land," said the EA.

"They are victims of constant fly tipping and are looking to secure the site to prevent waste being dumped there."

The other victims are those who live in the area. One person who regularly cycles on the Cawston Greenway said he is annoyed that the fly-tippers have been allowed to continued dumping rubbish in the countryside, without any repercussions.

"It is more than a one-off - it is a business doing this," he said.

"Someone is regularly using this as a tip."

He also raised questions about whether it could be contaminating nearby Draycote Water.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency added: “Waste criminals scar our environment and communities. We are committed to stopping them.

“If people suspect illegal waste activities they should contact out 24/7 hotline on 0800 807060.”