SP2185 : Hardstanding by main gate, Packington Landfill Site
taken 12 years ago, near to National Exhibition Centre, Solihull, England
Known locally as Packington Mountain, it is one of the largest landfill sites in Europe. The location is the valley of the River Blythe between Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull. Its area is in the order of 150 hectares and it continues to increase in height, being prominent in views from the M42 motorway and the A452. It appears to have been established following sand and gravel extraction in the 1960s, perhaps for road-building: the area is close to the A45, A452, A446 dual carriageways and the M6 motorway (later joined by the M42 and the M6 Toll). The land was, possibly still is part of the Packington Estate, which is believed to have benefited financially from the landfill use. The site is operated by SITA UK, a French-owned company.