A Premier League legend and his millionaire neighbours are at war with a local farmer who they say has dumped hundreds of tonnes of building waste on woodland in the countryside close to their mansions.
Lorries containing building rubble have been tipping it out onto a picturesque woodland close to the luxury homes outside well-heeled Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire.
Former England player and Chelsea captain Dennis Wise is among a number of wealthy residents living nearby who have become furious at the dumping which is blighting their views of the Chilterns.
The area is also home to other famous football stars, including former Sheffield manager Dave Bassett and former Crystal Palace star Yannick Bolaise.
But the farmer has denied any wrongdoing and claims that the complaining neighbours are ‘townies’ who hate farmers and don’t understand how the countryside works.
Wise – former captain at the Stamford Bridge club – is furious: ‘It’s terrible what’s been done to the countryside here. It’s ruining the forest.’
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline from his mansion the retired footballer went on: ‘Trucks had been coming up and down the road constantly often in the early hours of the morning – and then we realised why when people stumbled upon the dumped material while walking their dogs almost four years ago.
‘A lot of neighbours complained about the issue and have continued to complain since.
Former England player and Chelsea captain Dennis Wise and his millionaire neighbours are at war with a local farmer who they say has dumped hundreds of tonnes of building waste on woodland in the countryside close to their mansions
Frustrated homeowners living on the ‘millionaires’ row’ have demanded action from Buckinghamshire Council for more than four years
Wise has accused the nearby farm (pictured) of ‘ruining the forest;. adding that ‘trucks had been coming up and down the road constantly often in the early hours of the morning’
‘But it has continued to go on – it should never have got to this stage.’
Wise – who has owned his home on the edge of the Chilterns designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since his playing days – lives on a lane dotted with mansions which typically change hands for upwards of £2.5 million.
It is just a few hundred yards from the blighted copse.
He went on: ‘We are all really frustrated.
‘But nothing’s been done to stop it and it’s been going for a long, long time.
‘The council has allowed it to get to this situation.’
The former Chelsea winger is the most prominent of a number of frustrated homeowners living on the ‘millionaires’ row’ who have demanded action from their local council for, they say, more than four years.
The land where the material has been spread is owned by the local county council, but backs onto a large farm.
Stark drone footage shows debris dumped at the back of the farm surrounded by dying trees and a lack of vegetation, in contrast to the lush green ferns on either side
Farmer John Casey accused Wise and his neighbours of reporting him to the council as revenge after he complained about them ‘joyriding’ their expensive cars down a private road – which he claims they should not have access to
Stark drone footage shows the debris dumped at the back of the farm surrounded by dying trees and a lack of vegetation, in contrast to the lush green ferns on either side.
But when contacted by MailOnline, farmer John Casey hit back and claimed that he had the ‘blessing of the council’ to dump the waste in an agreement to prevent a repeat of a forest fire that took place on the land four years ago.
And the farmer accused Wise and his neighbours of reporting him to the council as revenge after he complained about them ‘joyriding’ their expensive cars down a private road – which he claims they should not have access to.
Casey claims the council signed off on the dumping of the material and his neighbours are only complaining about it because they ‘don’t want any cattle going up and down their road’.
The farmer, who insists he ‘takes the environment very seriously’, added that his neighbours are annoyed after he took action to try and stop them ‘joyriding in their Ferrari’s’ down the access road adjacent to his farm – which he has claimed is only reserved for three properties.
He added: ‘Five years ago there was a fire here and the fire service were here for a week.
‘What we did was put a thick, 2ft layer of mud over it to stop the fire from coming in again, which was done in conjunction with the council.
‘They were concerned about the power lines overhead and said the layer of mud would stop future fires, which it has done.
Wise has written a letter which he intends to submit to the council claiming his neighbour’s actions have ‘created an eyesore and significant environmental hazard for the community’
‘The people up the road don’t want farmers here, but unfortunately for them we are here.
‘Everything we’ve done, we’ve done with the blessing of the council and we have stopped a lot of flytipping over the years.
‘We have spent years tidying the farm, but you have these retired people who have nothing better to do.’
However Buckinghamshire Council refuted Casey’’s claims that they agreed for such a vast quantity of waste to be dumped on its land – and promised an investigation into the episode.
The local authority – which is understood to own the land in question, some of which is leased as farmland – said the work had not been carried out or requested by the council, adding that an investigation has been launched into the alleged activity.
Residents living on the previously quiet rural lane have reported regular sightings of industrial vehicles or lorries carrying skips draped with building sheets to hide their contents travelling to the site.
One neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘We believe the material that’s being dumped comes from demolition work.
‘Someone is demolishing sites and obviously needs to get rid of the waste. It’s completely nuts. And it’s all greenbelt land.
Wise, pictured left with his Chelsea teammates in 1998, is concerned by the waste dump close to his home on the edge of the Chilterns designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
‘Before this started the woodland floor was a haven for wildflowers and plants including bluebells, anemones, celandine and wild garlic.
‘And there were wildlife – badgers, foxes, rabbits, hare and several species of deer. Now that’s all gone.
‘The area is popular with dog walkers and countryside ramblers, so hundreds of people have seen it happening. But it just goes on.’
Another local, who also asked to remain unnamed added: ‘It’s bitterly disappointing that the council haven’t done more.
‘The traffic alone has become ridiculous and the road looks completely different to when I moved in.
‘There used to be loads of trees and greenery and now it’s much more like a building site.
Among many to formally complain to Buckinghamshire Council has been Wise himself.
In a draft letter he plans to send to the council, Wise writes: ‘I am writing to express my deep frustration and concern.
‘This situation, which has been ongoing since 2020, affects woodland, creating an eyesore and significant environmental hazard for the community.
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‘The residents have repeatedly voiced our concerns, yet it appears our pleas for assistance have fallen on deaf ears. This negligence is unacceptable.
‘The accumulation of muck and waste not only detracts from the natural beauty of our area but poses a serious environmental hazard to local residents and wildlife.
‘It is imperative that the council takes immediate action to investigate these illegal activities and enforce the necessary regulations to prevent further infractions.’
This week Buckinghamshire council told residents that they would be sending out an investigator to see if any environmental crimes have taken place.
John Chilver, from the county council, added in a separate statement to MailOnline: ‘Buckinghamshire Council is the owner of the land in question.
‘We have been made aware of complaints about waste deposits and can confirm this has not been carried out by the council, nor has it been requested by us in any way.
‘Investigations into the matter are currently ongoing and due to their nature, we are unable to comment any further at this stage.’
MailOnline has also contacted the Environment Agency for comment.