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Here we go again... ANOTHER huge pile of rubbish blights the Black Country

Another mountain of waste is blighting the Black Country - just a few miles away from the site of a rubbish heap which took years to clear.

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This latest pile of junk in the Dudley borough has grown so high it can be seen from streets around - leaving residents outraged and fearing it could cause hygiene issues.

It comes fewer than two weeks after the last items of rubbish were finally removed from the former RDF site in Brierley Hill just three and a half miles away, at a cost of £2 million to the landowner.

The Environment Agency has revealed they have also had to take enforcement action against the company responsible for this latest tower of rubbish - in Shaw Road, Dudley.

Rowan Oak Waste Services Ltd have been stripped of their right to operate.

Jonathan Hall, the Environment Agency's regulated industry programme manager, said: "Rowanoak Waste, Shaw Road, Dudley previously held a permit allowing them to receive waste at the site.

"Earlier in the year we took action with the operator over the volume of waste they were storing.

"Our aim was to get the operator back into compliance and within their permit conditions as soon as possible.

"As soon as we knew this was not going to be successful we took enforcement action against the company and removed their right to operate.

"We have an ongoing investigation looking into the illegal depositing of the waste and it's source.

"We are seeking to secure safe and legal removal of the waste still left at the site."

The staggering sight caught the attention of Matt Foster, who lives nearby on a new housing estate at the top of Shaw Road.

Then: The huge pile of rubbish at the former RDF site

The 45-year-old said: "It's been there over a year. It was just getting bigger and bigger and now it looks like the company have closed."

Mr Foster added: "It's a concern to me as this pile of rubbish is not very far at all from where I live, and because of the problems it causes with smell and vermin.

"I also think it's unacceptable that these company's can take their money and run leaving all the mess for the taxpayer or council to pick up."

Dudley Council are also aware of this latest rubbish pile, and said that they are working with the Environment Agency to find a solution.

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services said: "We are aware of the issue with the build up of waste at the Shaw Road site which is occupied by Rowan Oak Waste Services Limited.

"Enforcement responsibility for the site is with the Environment Agency and we are in regular contact with them to resolve the issue."

The council were relieved when ongoing talks with the Environment Agency and landowner meant that taxpayers weren't left with the £2 million bill for clearing up the RDF site on Moor Street, Brierley Hill.

However the clear-up didn't take place until a lengthy battle which went all the way up to the High Court, and in 2013 saw RDF company director Robert McNaughton jailed.

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