A CANVEY wildlife reserve is planning to step up its security after tons of rubbish was dumped on its land.

Flytippers dumped a mountain of waste on the land at RSPB Canvey West Marshes near to Canvey Road and Ray Howard, councillor for waste, said it was probably around “three or four lorry loads”.

Mr Howard is disgusted that people have so little regard for the environment.

He said: “It is so regrettable we have got people in our society who think it is OK to do this.

“This is not a normal amount of rubbish, it is lorry loads.

“The environment has got to be kept clear, so why are people doing this to our community?”

Mr Howard confirmed that the land was owned by RSPB and that it will be the group that will clear the flytipping.

However, they will not be clearing it until they have installed a new set of barriers at the entrance in order to prohibit more flytipping from happening on their land.

Martin Payne, a representative of RSPB Essex, said: “We are currently still working on the best solution to prevent flytipping in the future while taking into account health and safety concerns.

“Alongside Castle Point Council and Essex Highways we are looking at long-term solutions which may include the use of barriers, new camera technology, signage and scrub clearance so that flytippers aren’t protected from view by hedgerow shielding.”

Mr Howard also responded to criticism he has received in light of the ever growing mountain of waste in the West Marshes.

He said: “I am being criticised as the councillor for waste by people who say that we were being slow in clearing it but it is not our responsibility, it is the RSPB’s.”

But he added: “The site where all this waste is being deposited is on an emergency access route.

“The route is there so that in an emergency, it is a direct route off the island for people.”

The RSPB have had other instances similar to this in the past few months and Mr Payne vented his frustration.

He said: “We remain disappointed that more flytipping has been added in recent weeks as this has hampered access to parts of the reserve and will mean having to allocate funds to remove the waste which should be spent on nature conservation, which is of course our priority.”