Villagers' Fury At 30ft 'Mattress Mountain' Towering Over Kent Industrial Estate
Waterlogged and stinking, hundreds of mattresses are piled high and bursting out of a yard on the small industrial estate in Smarten, Kent
Furious villagers have demanded action against this enormous, rotting 'mattress mountain' described as a huge environmental risk.
Waterlogged and stinking, hundreds are piled 30ft high and bursting out of a yard on a small industrial estate in Smarten, Kent.
They are owned by a businessman who claims he is recycling them for the sake of the environment.
But the Environment Agency is far from impressed and say they pose a major eco-hazard and fire risk.
They have given Lewis Bertram until Friday June 5th to clear them from his 'Eco-Matt.e.r.s' yard on the Smarden Business Estate outside Ashford, Kent.
Mr. Bertram was issued with an enforcement notice several months ago but has so far failed to comply with it.
One neighbouring businessman who asked not to be named said the mattresses were piled up to 30ft high.
He said: 'I think it's horrendous, for a beautiful village such as Smarden , it's thatched and chocolate box and he's ruined it.
'Lewis can be confrontational so the last thing us business owners want is to approach him about it.
'Lewis has done this before at other sites. He's always been in the local area so he's well known.
'He's blocked all the fire exits, you have to climb up onto the roof to get into the back, they're packed full.
'He has no permission to use the three large units in front of us but they're just full of mattresses.'
Mr Bertram defended himself and said he was planning to move his business to a bigger site after spending two years expanding it in the village.
He said: 'I am still talking with the Environment Agency and we are working to resolve any issues.
'I am aware of what I need to do with my business. We process 500 to 700 mattresses a week, employ three people and provide a service.'
Ian Dengate, from the Environment Agency, said: 'We were made aware of this in January and we have followed our process through.
'We've tried to work with the operator to bring it into compliance.
'We've tried to work with it through an enforcement notice. At the moment, that advice and guidance has been ignored.'
Local borough councillor Geraldine Dyer said: 'The residents are incredibly concerned about this. It's a huge fire risk and pollution as well.'
Smarden parish councillor Brian Bristow added: 'The size of the mountain is just horrendous.'