A TON of household renovation rubbish has been dumped in the car park by St James Church in Rowledge, it had been left there for more than four weeks by a lorry.

The car park in question actually belongs to the Forestry Commission which agreed to allow worshippers at St James to have priority use of the facility on Sunday mornings as a condition of creating the car park.

Rev Russell W Gant of St James Parish Office, said: “Over the last few months we have noticed that a dilapidated truck has been left in the car park over night for considerable periods of time.

“Usually it stays for around four weeks then is moved, only to re-appear. One of our church council members has, on two occasions reported the fact to the police, but without apparent response.

“It was then reported to Hampshire County Council, who eventually came back with the information that, if left for less than six weeks, the vehicle was not technically ‘abandoned’ and that, furthermore, it was on Forestry Commission land and therefore not their concern.

“One of our churchwardens saw the lorry being unloaded and challenged the owners, who assured him that they were going to get the truck repaired and would then be back to remove the rubbish.

“The truck owner gave a name and home address and made assurances that they would return. Sadly, the owner has not made good on his promise.”

According to individuals who use the land, fly-tipping seems to be an increasing problem and is a particular eyesore in areas of great beauty like the Alice Holt.

The church’s biggest concern in this particular instance is that the car park is regularly used by members of the Rowledge community of all ages, and rubbish such as this is potentially unsafe.

The Forestry Commission has assured the church that the fly-tip will be removed.

A local dog walker and regular user of the forest, said: “Alice Holt Forest is one of Farnham’s greatest assets and for someone to just dump a load commercial waste at one of its entrances is a disgrace. They should be prosecuted and made to shift it immediately.”