Fly-tipping blocks vital M5 emergency access route in Devon

A key emergency access route on the M5 in Devon has been rendered unusable after fly-tippers dumped large quantities of waste, forcing authorities to launch an appeal for information and leaving taxpayers facing a clean-up bill of more than £4,500.

The incident has blocked an emergency turning point at Little Copse, located between junctions 28 (Cullompton) and 29 (Exeter Airport), which is used by National Highways and police to release traffic trapped during major motorway incidents.

National Highways believes the fly-tipping occurred during two separate incidents. The dumped waste includes an oil central heating tank, oil drum, asbestos sheeting, a sofa and other household furniture.

The obstruction has prevented emergency services from using the route when responding to incidents on one of the South West’s busiest motorway sections.

Although the access gate from the motorway remains securely locked, those responsible are understood to have gained entry via a separate gate connected to the B3181 local road.

National Highways has since taken steps to secure the site further, including locking the secondary access point, clearing vegetation and working with Mid Devon District Council to arrange removal of the waste.

Emma Bazeley, National Highways Maintenance Service Manager for the South West, condemned the actions of those responsible.

“The items look like they’ve come from a house clearance and anyone who’s paid a company to dispose of their rubbish appropriately may well recognise them,” she said.

“If anyone does recognise the items, they can get in touch with us and we can notify the relevant authorities. It’s totally irresponsible to do this. They’ve not only put ours and police operations at risk but it can pose a risk to wildlife and the environment and it’s costly to remove.”

She added that litter and fly-tipping continue to place a significant financial burden on public authorities.

“Clearing litter from our roads costs the taxpayer millions of pounds a year, and it’s a cost local authorities can ill afford.”

Mid Devon District Council has confirmed that specialist removal and disposal of the waste, particularly the asbestos materials, will cost in excess of £4,500.

Councillor Josh Wright, Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement at Mid Devon District Council, said the scale of the incident was particularly concerning because of the location.

“It’s incredibly frustrating to see fly-tipping on this scale, particularly somewhere so important,” he said.

“As well as harming the environment, it’s costly to clear up and has caused disruption to an emergency access route which could have serious consequences if access is needed during an incident.”

He added: “Our teams are working with partners to get the site cleared as quickly and safely as possible. We’d ask anyone with information to come forward and remind people to always check anyone taking away waste is licensed to dispose of it properly.”

Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area or who recognises any of the dumped items to contact them as investigations continue.