A GIANT pile of rubbish dumped in Minehead is seeing in its fourth year as a blot on the landscape, much to residents’ dismay.

The pile, consisting of bailed-up blocks of cardboard and plastic, a rusty skip, asbestos roofing and broken glass, is located at the bottom of the road near the exit of the West Somerset Garden Centre, in Mart Road.

The County Gazette looked into the issue one year ago this month, but the problem persists.

The rubbish is understood to have been dumped by a company previously based on the industrial estate, but its origins have not been officially confirmed.

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Another thing which is uncertain among those involved is who is responsible for dealing with the growing pile, which has now been deemed ‘hazardous’.

Alex de Mendoza, chairman of the Minehead Chamber of Commerce, said: “It keeps going back and forth.

“No one can give you a straight answer about who is responsible.

“Everyone is getting fed up with it, and it would only take a day or so to clear up.

“I know there are problems with it as it has now been deemed hazardous.

“It is going to cost someone some money to clear up.

“It is an eyesore, and it’s not a good advertisement for the town.”

The Environment Agency (EA) said that as the waste fell on public highway, it did not fall under the agency’s authority.

A spokesman said: “Following ongoing problems with a local skip company, the Environment Agency successfully prosecuted the operator who had his licence revoked.

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“A quantity of waste was left on the site after the operator vacated the premises leaving the landowner to clear the site. At some point, following the closure of the skip business, some waste was deposited in Mart Lane.”

A West Somerset Council spokesman said: “West Somerset Council will continue to work with Somerset County Council and the Environment Agency to look at ways of resolving the fly-tipping issue in Mart Road, Minehead.”

SCC says it is working with WSDC and the EA to find a solution to the problem.