ENFORCEMENT action is being taken to order a Hunnington landowner to refill a large hole which he dug to infill with commercial waste.

But nearby residents have slammed the action by Bromsgrove District Council for not going far enough to ensure the land is restored and that invasive Japanese knotweed is removed.

Villagers first complained two years ago about the clearing of the Bromsgrove Road site by landowner Richard McIntosh who subsequently submitted a planning application to build an equestrian centre.

The application was withdrawn in the face of fierce protests in June, since when the council has been considering enforcement action.

A council spokesman said the order required Mr McIntosh to refill the hole with material which is already on the site, plant grass seed and put a fence adjacent to the road.

But neighbours Clare Harris and Tony Durrell said the action “did not go far enough”.

Mrs Harris was appalled there was no reference to the knotweed, which she said had already encroached into the garage of an adjacent property belonging to an elderly couple.

She also criticised the council for failing to order Mr McIntosh to replace trees which he had cut down and fears the site will remain “aesthetically horrendous”.

Residents are also left wondering how the council will police the filling of the hole to ensure that waste is not brought onto the site.

Mr Durrell fears Mr McIntosh will make another bid to build an equestrian centre once the hole is filled in, which objectors said was too big a commercial enterprise for the rural location.

The council spokesman added: “As a council we have acted within the parameters of the planning enforcement law to take action and have liaised with the landowner accordingly. “However, it is not appropriate for us to discuss this matter any further at this stage.

“We are still working on answers to questions from the parish council who we met with last week.”