Shock at 'mountain' of dumped PPE packs discovered on New Forest land

Aerial photos show the scale of the huge fly-tip at Little Testwood Farm in Calmore with thousands of packs of PPE left out in the open next to Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve. 

The items were first found by officials at New Forest District Council with concerns now having been raised that there may have been no intention to move them.

READ MORE: 'Mountain' of dumped PPE packs discovered on New Forest land

But now one councillor for the area has called for a fine for whoever has dumped the waste as the Environment Agency prepares to visit the site. 

Cllr Derek Tipp, who represents the area on the district council said: "My reaction is one of disbelief.

"If this is brand new equipment, then it must have value, so why would it be dumped?

"We live in a crazy world. Anyone found to have dumped this needs to be fined to cover the clean-up bill."

Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed its officers are not involved and that the incident will be dealt with by the local authority. 

An Environment Agency spokesperson said it is currently investigating what happened. 

READ MORE: 'Mountain' of dumped PPE packs discovered on New Forest land

"Generally, an investigation will comprise of our specialist officers looking for clues as to how material came to be where it was dumped.

"They also talk to other agencies during a typical probe.

"We can’t give running commentaries on an investigation, but we always keep enforcement options under constant review."

The county council has contacted the Environmental Agency (EA) to see if it can discover where the PPE came from and whether it was dumped during the pandemic on the grounds it was defective.

PPE dumped at Little Testwood Farm Calmore. (Image: Solent News)

Julian Lewis MP for New Forest East said: "The unauthorised disposal of such a huge quantity of medical aprons should be relatively easy to investigate and its history traced.

"One long-term lesson from all this is that never again should the United Kingdom be caught without strategic reserve stocks of protective medical clothing."

Agency officials would decide whether the items had been abandoned before deciding whether to launch an investigation, the meeting was told.

A district council statement said: "Little Testwood Farm has two distinct sections. The first is the occupied part, and the rear section – through a lockable gate – is the second section.

"It is in the second section, which comprises an open empty space where the items are stored. This section does fall within the caravan site licence, meaning the conditions attached to the licence also apply.”