IT WAS once a beautiful nature reserve with a lake at its centre, nesting birds and beehives at its entrance. Now Trevoole Moor, near Camborne, is being investigated as one of the country’s worst ‘waste crime sites’.

The 25-acre site , bordering a public footpath and Duchy of Cornwall-owned Pendarves Woods, is dotted with piles of building waste, including toilets, large pipes, gravel, concrete and even tyres.

One nearby resident believes about 15 acres have been dumped on, flattened, then dumped on again over the past 20 years. They recall a bucolic wetland which was a haven to wildlife, but has been turned into an ugly dumping ground. Neighbours are reticent to talk while a criminal investigation is taking place, but one told us: “It’s an absolute catastrophe”.

A House of Lords committee first revealed that a large-scale “waste crime site” was being investigated in Cornwall last October. The cross-party Environment and Climate Change Committee highlighted multiple failures by the Environment Agency (EA), the ineffectiveness of its Joint Unit for Waste Crime and a lack of interest shown by the police in tackling such sites.

The EA would not reveal the exact location last year because it said a criminal investigation was ongoing, which is now nearing completion. It was revealed last week that the site is in Trevoole, a hamlet between Praze-an-Beeble and Camborne.

While locals understand there are permissions to use the land for ‘clean waste’, there are concerns the dumping has gone beyond that, fuelled by lorries visiting the site during the night. “Why would they do that if everything was above board?” asked one concerned neighbour.

Another said the dumping originally started in 2004, and they tried to get it stopped in 2019. They said that the EA “had done their best at the time, with the resources they had”, adding: “It’s been very upsetting. It’s upped a level since then.”

It’s thought a disgusted dog walker reported the site to the authorities last year, leading to the current investigation. “I remember when you first visited the site and there were beehives. Now you go there and there are burnt-out sofas. It’s unbelievably appalling,” said a neighbour, who has stopped visiting the wetland site as it is too distressing.

The moor lies within the constituency of Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George, who said much stronger action and powerful enforcement was needed, and he would raise the matter with the EA and ministers.

“It is absolutely shocking that cowboys like these believe they can get away with it. It is vital an example is made of people who flagrantly abuse the rest of society by polluting the countryside in this way.”

An EA spokesperson told us: “We have taken action to stop large scale deposits of waste at the site, including issuing Illegal Waste Stop Letters to the landowner, hauliers and operator.

“Our investigation is nearing completion and we will take strong action against perpetrators of waste crime.”

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said it only deals with smaller flytipping incidents and has not been involved in this investigation. However, councillors were keen to discuss the subject of flytipping at a meeting of the community wellbeing committee last week.

Louise Blackman, the Reform UK councillor for Perranporth, said there has been an increase in the number of reports of illegal dumps and rats. Cllr Andrew Mitchell, the committee’s chairman and Independent member for St Ives West & Towednack, commented that there had been a “massive increase” in rats in St Ives.

A spokesperson for the local authority has also pointed out that most flytips do not include food and are therefore unlikely to attract rodents.

They said: “Flytipping can pose risks to both people, animals and marine life. It also costs a significant amount of money to clear, which is ultimately paid for by taxpayers and private landowners.

“Cornwall Council has invested additional resources to tackle flytipping and to trace those responsible when flytips do occur. When a flytip is reported, we look for evidence that may help identify where the rubbish has come from. We also use covert cameras to record incidents at flytipping hotspots.”

Cllr Thalia Marrington, cabinet member with responsibility for community safety and public protection, added: “There is no excuse for flytipping and we will take action against anyone who is caught flytipping or littering in Cornwall. I urge people to be responsible with their rubbish and if they are paying someone to take items away, to make sure they use a licensed waste carrier.”

Flytipping is a serious offence and carries tough penalties. Offenders can face Fixed Penalty Notices of up to £1,000 for large‑scale or hazardous dumping and £500 for smaller incidents.

In the most serious cases, prosecution through the courts can result in unlimited fines and even imprisonment for up to five years. Vehicles used in flytipping may also be seized and destroyed, and offenders can be ordered to cover clean-up and legal costs.

Anyone who sees flytipped waste on public land is urged to report it and to submit any evidence, such as pictures or videos that may help identify those responsible, via the Cornwall Council website.

If a flytip is obstructing a road, it should be reported to the police by calling 999. You can also report flytips anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visiting the Crimestoppers website.

“Businesses, no matter how small, must use a licensed waste carrier to remove any commercial waste,” added the council spokesperson. “Residents must also use a licensed waste carrier when paying someone to remove household waste.”

You can check if a business or individual has a waste carrier’s licence on the Environment Agency website.

Advice for businesses on commercial waste and the law can also be found on the Cornwall Council website.