Pictured on Monday, flytipping at 248 Camden Road, right

AN empty building site on which a homelessness hostel is to be built has been “occupied” by fly-tippers.

Residents told how several trucks have dumped large piles of waste at the council-owned plot of land at 248 Camden Road since Friday night.

Shortly after, documents were pinned to the fence declaring the site had been “occupied”.

Police who inspected the plot told nearby residents the fly-tippers had attached “unsigned legal papers” to the entrance of the site.

The “legal warning” pinned to the gate said that “at all times there is at least one person on these premises”.

Neighbours have been warned by the police that the situation could “drag on” because the law is “complicated” with regards to squatters’ rights.

A caravan, which residents say is unoccupied, has been left on the site.

Camden Mews resident Margaret Harvey said: “None of us have seen anyone physically on the property.”

She said she heard “a lot of banging” on Friday night before seeing a truck “dump a pile of rubbish” on the vacant lot, adding: “First thing Monday morning, more vehicles arrived – they’ve been arriving off and on all day until at night, three large trucks arrived and left a whole heap. They seem to be piling it up in the far corner – blatantly depositing the materials.

“It’s rubble, it looks like it’s from a building site. There’s lots of boxes, also lots of plastic bags full of whatever – I think it’s builder’s spoil which they’re taking off sites. Last night they left a whole load of greenery there too, so they’re obviously picking it up from all over.”

She added: “We don’t know what’s in the materials – whether it’s toxic or flammable. It’s a whole mix of all sorts of things.”

The land was cleared following the demolition of a women’s hostel during the pandemic and the Town Hall has secured planning permission to build a new hostel on the site. A “simple and elegant building” will provide 39 new temporary homes for families in an attempt to tackle “hidden homelessness” across the borough, the council says.

The council is responsible for the land until contractors Morgan Sindall take over and begin the building work.

On Wednesday (yesterday) night, the council held a walk-in consultation in the Kentish Town Community Centre on the construction management plan that will govern the building process.

Speaking to the New Journal, a spokesperson for the Met said: “The local authority is responsible for investigating fly-tipping – and squatting is often a civil rather than a criminal matter.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We are aware that the site was illegally occupied over the weekend and we are working to secure it and prevent any further fly-tipping taking place. We plan to build much-needed affordable homes on this site for Camden families, so it is important to get this site clear.”