An alleged unlawful dump has sparked alarm following accounts of extensive waste disposal.

The facility, situated close to Rudgwick in West Sussex, is thought to be accepting as many as 20 truckloads of refuse daily.

Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham, John Milne, has voiced worries about the magnitude of the operation and what he perceives as insufficient regulatory response.

Mr Milne said this constitutes criminal behaviour that harms surroundings and generates genuine anxiety about community wellbeing. He added that neighbourhoods should not be left to manage the aftermath while those responsible evade consequences.

A significant portion of the refuse is being moved along a privately-owned bridleway, leading to objections from local inhabitants and conservation organisations.

Despite ongoing reports to official bodies, minimal intervention seems to have occurred up to this point.

Mr Milne has additionally urged more robust measures nationally to address waste offences, which he cautioned is becoming an escalating matter throughout England.

Current findings have uncovered in excess of 500 functioning illegal waste facilities, including 11 extensive mega sites each holding over 20,000 tonnes of material.

Figures from the Environment Agency indicate that although more than 700 illegal disposal grounds were eliminated in 2024/25, over 500 continued to operate at the close of last year.

Mr Milne said the expanding extent of illegal dumping combined with the failure to prevent it is deeply troubling. He noted that in the House of Commons, he challenged ministers to treat this matter with greater gravity and support initiatives that would prevent those affected from bearing the burden.

He endorsed a suggested revision to the Crime and Policing Bill that would transfer liability for removing illegally dumped refuse from property owners to councils.

The revision additionally demands better teamwork between local authorities, law enforcement and the Environment Agency.

A particular source of grievance for activists is that agricultural workers and private landowners are frequently burdened with clearing expenses.

Mr Milne said when an offender deposits a truckload of refuse on a farmer’s property, the farmer is left settling the account, and those harmed should not be bearing costs for crimes committed against them.