High Wycombe Mosque and Oakridge Church hit with fly-tipping

Oakridge Baptist Church on Oakridge Road and High Wycombe Central Mosque on Jubilee Road are separated by only a few hundred yards within the town.

However, delegates from both venues have shared their disappointment and frustration that a large pile of disused clothing has been dumped a stone’s throw away from each building.

A shopping trolley from a nearby supermarket was also left, along with several bin liners and empty drink cans.

It is one of the many examples of fly-tipping that has impacted the town since the start of 2025.

Qumar Aziz, who attends the mosque, told the Free Press: “People must walk past this to get to both the church and the mosque; this isn’t associated with either place of worship, and it doesn’t reflect the values from both communities who attend them.

“It is upsetting for worshippers, including families and elderly people, who have to pass this.

“Places of worship should be treated with dignity and respect, as the current situation is unpleasant and unhygienic.

“This has been going on for a long time, and there is a wider issue of illegal dumping, and there is a lack of responsibility.

“The mosque and the church serve the community positively, but unfortunately, they are not respected because people are dropping their waste near each place.

“The people who have done this should think about the impact they are having on the community.

“I hope the local authorities pick it up and that further action is taken.”

It is not known who has committed this act of fly-tipping, but if they are caught, they could receive a fine of at least £500.

This was increased from £250 in July 2024, after Buckinghamshire Council noticed there had been a rise in fly-tipping and littering up and down the county.

The new penalty notice has been installed as a deterrent to stop people from committing the crime in the area.

Since the new £500 fine was issued nearly two years ago, nearly £20,000 worth of penalties have been paid to the council.

Alison Irwin, who is the church secretary at Oakridge Baptist, said: “It has become a dumping ground for everyone’s rubbish.

“It is disrespectful.

“I think the council try but it’s like a whack-a-mole as it will get cleared one minute, but will return the next.”

The Free Press has contacted the town’s mayor, Majid Hussain, for a comment.

Mr Hussain is a Labour councillor for the Oakridge area in High Wycombe.

High Wycombe Mosque and Oakridge Church hit with fly-tipping

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