Residents close to the notorious Waste4Fuel in St Paul’s Cray have finally been given hope of an end to the saga. 

The Cornwall Drive site has been bringing misery to those nearby for years, with dozens of fires and some locals suggesting the pile of rubbish smells of "rotting corpses".

An announcement on October 15 said the company’s licence has now been officially revoked - suggesting the "ordeal" might soon be over.

The Environment Agency’s work to re-profile the plant to allow safe access for the London Fire Brigade (LFB) was also confirmed to be complete.

Residents spoke of their "relief" at the news, but some also feel it is too long coming and the pile of waste is still sitting there. 

Martin Peaple, 26, who lives close by on Mallard Walk, said: "It is a relief and it’s a positive step.

"The end is in sight but nothing has been done yet - there’s still a huge mound of rubbish. The smell is there and there could be more fires.

"Maybe it’ll be gone by next Christmas."

Dennis Clark, 64, from Cornwall Drive, echoed Mr People’s thoughts and told News Shopper: "The licence going is good but I’ll be truly happy when the mess is gone and Waste4Fuel is held to account.

"It’s too little, too late really. What we’ve had to deal with over the last three years has been horrible. 

"The company’s got away with it and we should be compensated. The authorities haven’t done enough to help."

Waste4Fuel’s authorisation was officially repealed on Wednesday October 8, which renders it a criminal offence for the company to operate a waste facility on the land without the benefit of the environmental permit.

In a statement this month Orpington MP Jo Johnson claimed it marks "the end of the road for Waste4Fuel".

He added: "I’m delighted that the environmental permit has now been revoked once and for all, but this has gone on far too long and has been a horrifying ordeal for residents, who have my deepest sympathy for everything they have endured at the hands of these cowboy operators.

"The priority now is to clear the site and hold to account those responsible for this scandalous saga."

The Environment Agency (EA) says its officers continue to visit the site daily alongside LFB.

But the heap remains - with no definitive date set for when it will be cleared.

An EA spokesperson explained: "We are now reviewing all of our options for clearing this site, and will continue working with our partners to ensure this happens. 

"We will continue to pursue all of our regulatory options to find a long-term solution."

Genevieve Foster, whose family owns the land, said she would have bold ambitions for the patch if "one day" the mess is cleared.

She said: "I’m happy about the news but it doesn’t get rid of the rubbish. I share the thought that it’s progress, but what next?

"We don’t actually know what’s going on. There’s still the problem of the waste." 

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Editor Andy Parkes comments

"Finally it looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel for these poor people.

"Having to put up with this foul stench for so long must have been horrendous, I really don’t know how they’ve done it.

"I just hope that now this permit has been revoked the authorities put every effort into emptying the site and bringing some normality back into the lives of these poor families.

"I also think it is vitally important that those responsible for inflicting such misery on so many people for so long are brought to justice and made to pay for what they have done."