The Government has announced that it will be taking action to clear 18,000 tonnes of illegal waste to be cleared from Bolton House Road, Wigan
It is one of England’s most notorious illegal waste sites and will be cleared along with sites in Lancashire and Sheffield as the government’s new Waste Crime Action Plan sets out a zero-tolerance approach, with action to prevent waste crime at its source by closing loopholes and equipping regulators with the tools they need to stop waste criminals.
While the Environment Agency has conducted preliminary assessments at the site, further clean-up assessments will begin immediately, after it was prioritised due to the serious and ongoing threat it poses to local community and the environment.
Ian Crewe, Environment Agency Area Director for Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, said:
“We welcome this commitment from the government to assess the Bolton House Road waste site for clearance. It has scarred this community for too long.
“Together with our partners we’ve already created plans for a potential site clearance so we are prepared to progress this, once assessments are complete.
“Our criminal investigation into those behind it continues and I’d like to assure residents we are doing everything in our powers to pursue those responsible and bring them to justice for this serious offending.”
