COMPLAINTS about the content of heavy lorries driving material along a country lane for the construction of new fishing lakes are being investigated by the Environment Agency.

They have told the landowner of Hanrox Meadows in Blunts Lane, Potters Crouch, to provide details of what was brought to the site during the construction of three fishing lakes with associated car parking, toilet and storage facilities.

Residents of Noke Lane, who were plagued by heavy lorries during the construction process of the lakes, maintained that an excessive number of heavy goods vehicles were using their quiet road and questioned what they were carrying.

St Albans MP Anne Main, who has taken up the residents’ concerns, said that the owner of Hanrox Meadows had been unable to supply documentation to the Environment Agency about what had been brought on to the site.

The owner had now agreed to come back with the information by the end of July, she said. Mrs Main went on: “I kept contacting St Albans district council about the number of lorries using Noke Lane. People living there felt that what they had seen on the lorries was not what was allowed.

“This has been under investigation since April and they have not been able to supply documentation to the Environment Agency.”

Stressing that there was no proof that conditions had been breached, Mrs Main added: “Once they do provide the documentation, the Environment Agency will decide the next step. If they can’t show what this stuff was that was brought in, it could be a breach of their licence.”

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We are expecting the operators of the site to get back to us with the information we have requested by the end of July. Once we receive this we will review it; the information will dictate our next steps.

“When we visited the site with St Albans district council planning enforcement officers it was so we could investigate the complaints of illegal waste activity; the traffic entering and exiting the site falls within the remit of St Albans council.”

He went on: “Our environmental crime team is working hard to put a stop to illegal waste activity from the Hertfordshire and North London area. It is always a great help to us when we receive reports from residents informing us of any activity they think may be illegal.”

He urged anyone who believes they have spotted signs of illegal dumping activity to ring the hotline on 0800 80 70 60.