Lulworth family fury as 'no change' to 'dump' next door

Graham Hemsley, 77, who has Parkinson's disease, and wife Carol, 73, live at East Lulworth and the disused builder's yard on neighbouring land is used as a waste storage facility by the Lulworth Estate.

As previously reported, the family have been calling for action to clear up the site which they say is causing an infestation of rats which are gradually eating into their home.

"Nothing has changed," said the couple's son Alex, who highlighted the issue in a YouTube video. "It is getting worse and worse, rats have eaten most of the front doorstep and the Environment Agency is saying that everything is compliant with regulations."

He added: "The Environment Agency came out within two days of (the video) going on YouTube.

"They got Lulworth Estate to remove the gas bottles but after that they said it was a waste of their resources.

"My parents are deeply depressed, it is stressing my poor father to death.

"It is going to get worse, when the sun comes out the amount of waste coming from the beach will quadruple."

The site owned by Lulworth Estate in East Lulworth (Image: Supplied)

Alex said the Estate began bringing rubbish from Durdle Door, the campsite and Lulworth Cove and depositing them in bins at the site.

The bins at the site are shared by Lulworth Estate and Dorset Council.

Mr Hemsley added: "We thought the embarrassment may be enough to get to move it.

"The house has been devalued by around £250,000 and we can't sell it because it is next to a rubbish dump.

"Even if they left the house it would all just fall apart and it wouldn't be worth anything.

"[Lulworth Estate] own 12,500 odd acres of Dorset, they can put it somewhere else.

Al said nothing has changed at the site next to his parents' home (Image: Supplied)

"I could give them ten sites they could take it to.

"They have ruined my parent's life and they have had the opportunity to sort it and never taken it.

Al claims the rubbish site has caused an infestation of rats at his parents' home (Image: Supplied)

"They have been embarrassed and are trying to keep their heads down and ride it out."

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We visited the site in January and found it to be complying with its environmental permit. The investigation is therefore now closed.”

A spokesperson for Lulworth Estate said: "The Estate are in regular communication exchange with the farmhouse residents regarding their concerns. 

"We have listened and taken actions to include increased pest control and additional cleaning, as well as continued ongoing maintenance and security improvements to our site.   

"The residents have also now taken up our long-standing offer to monitor and manage pest control holistically across the location, to include their farmhouse."