The abandoned dual carriageway that's become an illegal dump

A disused dual carriageway near Newport is being used as an illegal rubbish dump after years of neglect.

The section of dual carriageway off the A48 in Coedkernew, Newport, is known locally as "the road to nowhere" and has been left empty for many years.

Although the road is blocked off to traffic, residents have said the long strip of land south of a roundabout outside Quinn Radiators is attracting huge amounts of fly-tipped waste.

People who live nearby say they have been highlighting the issue for a number of years but claim their complaints are falling on deaf ears.Piles of tyres as well as domestic, industrial and building waste is now strewn along the strip of land attracting vermin.

Credit: Media Wales

Brian Miles, who lives nearby in the Peterstone area of Newport, said the road had always attracted fly-tipped rubbish since it was built about 20 years ago.

"As far as I'm aware it has never been used," the 60-year-old said."The only time I have ever seen it used is when the BBC filmed episodes of Doctor Who.

"It's horrendous. You need to come off the road as well. If you go into the shrub you will find lots more.

"There is thousands upon thousands of tonnes of waste down there and it just grows. Nothing ever gets taken away."

The section of disused road stretches from the roundabout outside the entrance to Quinn Radiators Limited.

It was built during the development of the Imperial Park estate in the late 1990s, when electronics firm LG set up its factory in Newport with promises of creating more than 6,100 jobs.

The plant eventually closed in the mid-2000s, having never delivered on the employment opportunities the multi-million pound investment was expected to bring.

The road appears to have been built to accommodate further development on land adjacent to the Imperial Park site, which has never materialised.

A Newport City Council spokeswoman said: "The land in question is owned by a number of organisations and private owners.

We’re currently working with partners including Natural Resources Wales, Fly-tipping Action Wales, police, fire and Welsh Government to establish all ownership details and develop an action plan so we can prosecute and prevent further dumping."