Builders have illegally dumped hundreds of tons of rubble at Oxfordshire golf courses, writes Richard Abbott.

Traces of arsenic have been found at one of the sites, Waterstock Golf Course, near Wheatley.

Initial tests showed no immediate danger, but investigations are continuing to find out if the pollution is a threat to public health or the environment.

No contamination has been found at the other site, Hinksey Heights Golf Club, off the Oxford southern bypass.

But the practice of dumping waste without planning permission has been condemned by Oxfordshire County Council.

Suzy Coyne, the council's principal planning officer, estimated 250,000 cubic metres of waste had been dumped at Waterstock.

She said: "They are using the golf course as a landfill disposal site. It is the same as building a house without permission." Jon Payne, assistant environmental health manager for South Oxfordshire District Council, confirmed that traces of arsenic had been found at Waterstock.

Mr Payne said the key question was whether the contamination at Waterstock was high enough to pose a threat.

"From the data we have, we are suspicious, but not concerned," he said. "It needs further investigation."

Environment Agency spokesman Catherine Jones said: "Arsenic is a naturally occurring heavy metal, which can be poisonous and can be harmful to the environment. Samples were found at Waterstock, but it seems they don't pose any risk to the environment."

The county council has ordered the owners of the Waterstock course to remove the waste. The club appealed and lost. Now it is taking its case to the High Court. Club owner Ron Wyatt said the soil had been brought from the site of the M40 services at Wheatley to construct nine new holes.

He said: "We have never been told it is a problem as far as public health is concerned. The Environment Agency has told us it is within its limitations. Hopefully we can agree a scheme with the county council and complete our golf course construction this year by building the nine holes."

Ms Coyne said large amounts of waste had also been dumped at Hinksey Heights around the fairways, tees and greens, and the council was encouraging them to make a planning application."

John Brimble, of Hinksey Heights Golf Club, said the club intended to modify the mounds into nine new holes.

Story date: Tuesday 11 April

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