FED up residents say their campaign to clean-up an area is blighted with a burnt-out car, used nappies and syringes, has ‘fallen on deaf ears’.

Some claim the land 'up to three miles long' at Garthalan Drive, a former engine works between Caldicot and Rogiet once used as a car manufacturing base, is now a dumping ground for fly tippers.

A burnt-out car, settee, mattress, building materials, toilet, fridge, used nappies, an eight-inch kitchen knife, burnt rubbish, rotting food and used syringes are among the items strewn along both sides of the path and close to the South Wales-London railway line.

Residents use the public right of way to walk their dogs or to get to the Severn Tunnel Junction train station but claim the disused site has become overgrown and is a health hazard.

One Longfellow Road resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “This open area was once beautiful with budlea but now it is an environmental disaster.”

“People are driving their vans up here and dumping waste.

“Children play here and someone could get seriously injured.”

“The fly-tipping has got worse. Our plea seems to have fallen on deaf ears.”

He said residents are frustrated and angry and want the owners or council to take action and clean it up.

Peter Coles, 74, of Longfellow Road, said youths have been congregating on the site. Neighbour Keith Lewis, 52, who walks his dog along the path every day said his dog recently escaped serious injury after stepping on a syringe needle.

“This is the only place I can walk my dog away from cars and cows.”

“Recycling to children’s toys, asbestos, glass and rubble are strewn across the paths. It’s unparalleled devastation. How can anyone allow this to happen in 21st century Great Britain.”

Maureen Pocket, of Betjeman Avenue said: “It is an eyesore and a dumping ground for Caldicot.”

Monmouthshire council said the Tidy Towns team has allocated a limited amount of funding to clean parts of the land and to put concrete boulders in place to stop vehicle’s gaining access. However, the council says access cannot be blocked because of a large recreational vehicle camped on the land. An Environmental Health Officer has been liaising with the landowner to ensure the lawful eviction of the encampment.

A council spokesman said: “It is therefore unlikely that any action will be taken to clear up the land until the encampment has vacated.”

The council’s social services Independent Living Team is working with the two occupants to look at potential housing solutions.

Derek Prosser Associates, the agent acting for the landowners Llanhennock Investments and Fairlake Properties, said a planning application for 100 homes and two play areas was refused by Monmouthshire council last year because of concerns there were too many proposed homes and contamination.

Mr Prosser said: “My clients are well aware of the situation and would dearly love to get permission to build a low-cost housing development, which the local people supported.”

“They are keen to do what they can to stop anti-social behaviour but there is only so much they can do.”

“There is public right of way which we cannot obstruct.”

“They did some land clearance last year at the request of the council, are working with Environmental Health and considering blocking off vehicle access.”

Mr Prosser said the future of the site is currently being considered.