COUNCIL chiefs have been accused of failing to tackle a "nightmare" flytipping site which almost set protected trees on fire.

A huge pile of tyres, furniture, logs and builders' waste was set on fire in forest near Durley last week after the landowner was asked to clean it up.

The flames moved onto the road and were close to the trees when firefighters arrived at Church Copse, residents said.

Roy Warren, who lives 30 metres away from the site on Greenwood Lane, said flytipping began in March. He reported the issue to Winchester City Council four times as the scrapheap grew but says nothing was done on site.

"It has blighted this area," he told the Chronicle. "They've made the site even worse with all these trees being burnt. Our fears and nightmares continue to get worse."

The fire, stoked by last week's heat and high winds, was spotted by a local last week. Two fire engines and heavy machinery were called from Botley Fire Station to tackle the blaze.

The council issued a notice to the landowner asking him to remove the rubbish Mr Warren added: "Eight firemen, two engines and gallons of water – all because Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council won't do their jobs in the first place.

"They're condoning irresponsible behaviour from this landowner."

An internal email shared with the Chronicle suggests that pressures on the public purse influenced the council's decision to avoid direct action.

Simon Finch, assistant director for environment, said: "The approach should be to get the owner to clear up the land and a s215 is designed to incentivise them do this. "However if they don’t, we can take direct action but, like everything else, we need the resources to do it, so let’s start with the planning enforcement option. I realise this message won’t sit well with some members of the community but, as you know, we have to prioritise and adopt a proportionate approach."

A city council spokesman said: "Clearly recent events relating to the fire at the site were unfortunate and the concern of local residents is understood. The site was re-inspected after the fire and most of the waste materials were gone, presumably either burnt during the fire or removed from the land. This being the case it is no longer necessary to take enforcement action although the council will write to the landowner requesting the removal of remaining items and suggesting that it would be sensible to take steps at the site access to discourage similar events from happening in future.

"Whether there is a breach of the law will depend on the circumstances of the case."