Council leaders have welcomed the successful clearance of waste and debris from fire-damaged land at Beach Way, Jaywick, following enforcement action by council officers.
The site, which was affected by a devastating fire in August 2024 and later became a hotspot for fly-tipping, has now been fully cleared and secured after intervention by Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Environmental Protection team.
Council officers first received a complaint in November last year from a local resident raising concerns about fly tipped waste, odours and vermin at land in Beach Way. The site had become heavily contaminated with large quantities of household waste, broken furniture and other dumped material.
Following site inspections, officers concluded that the condition of the land constituted a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. A legal abatement notice was therefore served on the company managing the deceased landowner’s assets, requiring the land to be cleared and made safe.
Given the complexity of the case — including probate matters and logistical challenges — council officers maintained close and ongoing liaison with the solicitors administering the estate, extending compliance deadlines where appropriate while continuing to drive progress towards full clearance.
Clearance works began on 19 January with Environmental Protection officers carrying out regular monitoring visits to ensure standards were met.
A further inspection on Monday, 26 January, confirmed that all fly tipped and accumulated waste had been removed, the adjacent public footpath leading to the beach wall had been fully cleared, the site had been secured with fencing, and the legal notice served by the council had been fully complied with.
Councillor Adrian Smith, TDC Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “This has been a complex case and I am pleased to see the site at Beach Way now fully cleared and secured.
“The aftermath of the fire has been distressing for local residents, and the condition of the land had become a concern for the wider community. Its clearance marks an important step forward in addressing those issues.
“We are proud to champion our local environment, and I am grateful to the council’s Environmental Protection officers, along with all those involved, for their work in bringing this complex matter to a conclusion.
“The council will continue working with partners to discourage further fly tipping in the area and will consider additional measures where appropriate to prevent it from happening again.
“Residents are encouraged to report fly tipping or environmental concerns through the council’s website so that they can be dealt with promptly.”
Fly tipping is illegal under the Environmental Protection Act and can result in fixed penalty notices, prosecution, fines and imprisonment in the most serious cases.
For more information or to report fly tipping online, go to www.tendringdc.gov.uk/content/fly-tipping.
