'Potentially hazardous' trailer waste stuck on A1

The trailer full of "potentially hazardous" waste was abandoned on the side of the A1 at Great Ponton, Lincolnshire

A large trailer full of "potentially hazardous" waste abandoned in a layby next to the A1 is "too heavy" to be towed away, the local council has said.

South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) said it did not know how long the trailer at Great Ponton, Lincolnshire, had been there, but the Environment Agency (EA) said it could have been there "for several months".

National Highways said the trailer was fly-tipped and contained "an amount of potentially hazardous waste, which needs specialist removal."

Lincolnshire Police said it was investigating after a woman in her 60s was injured when her car crashed into the trailer on Sunday, leading to a closure of the A1 southbound for nine hours.

No arrests had been made but the investigation was ongoing, the force added.

Meanwhile, the council said it was "working on the most appropriate way to recover and dispose" of the trailer.

The trailer contains "an amount of potentially hazardous waste", National Highways said

A local authority spokesperson said: "SKDC is working on the most appropriate way to recover and dispose of this trailer. It is too heavy to simply lift or tow away.

"The materials inside would need hazard-testing before specialist removal involving lane closure, and we are working with our partners on the right way forward."

An Environment Agency spokesperson said they had "requested that South Kesteven District Council remove the trailer several months ago".

National Highways said it was working with the council and its environmental health team "to arrange the safe removal of the trailer".

Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Stamford, said she did not want Great Ponton to be "a dumping ground"

Rutland and Stamford MP Alicia Kearns said: "We do not want to be the dumping ground for anyone, no-one in Great Ponton wants this."

She said she had written to local authorities to share her concerns.

Kearns added: "No-one who is trying to make their journey along the A1 deserves to be worried about this."

Carol Ramsey, parish clerk of Great Ponton Parish Council, said: "I'm really shocked and very surprised it hasn't been dealt with before."

Garry Ireland from nearby business SOS Motorcycle Recovery said the situation was "upsetting"

Garry Ireland, who works locally at SOS Motorcycle Recovery in Great Ponton, said: "It's upsetting really because everyone has to pay to get rid of waste and somebody else just comes along and dumps it on your doorstep.

"People just don't want to pay to get rid of stuff nowadays."

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