Environment Agency accused of failing to tell the Lords about an illegal waste site in Wigan

Baroness Sheehan, Chair of the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee has written the EA over the committee’s concerns about the increasing number of highly environmentally damaging waste crime sites being discovered since the committee’s inquiry.

In a letter to the organisation, Baroness Sheehan states the committee had no idea about the site on Bolton House Road in Bickershaw until it was reported in the media.

It took firefighters nine days to extinguish the fire at the site, containing more than 25,000 tonnes of rubbish, in July.

Residents were left severely impacted by the fire, which was later declared a major incident.

Since then an extended closure order has been imposed on the tip until January to ensure that no further waste can be dumped.

The only people permitted onto the site is one of the landowners and representatives of organisations such as the Environment Agency.

Baroness Sheehan said: “Since the Environment Agency gave evidence to our inquiry into serious and organised waste crime we have become increasingly alarmed by the reporting of new waste crime sites in the media which, we now know, the Environment Agency knew about but failed to reference in evidence provided to us.

"We are disappointed that these sites were not deemed necessary to bring to the committee’s attention.

"I have therefore written to Alan Lovell and Philip Duffy to seek clarification on a number of concerns the Committee has regarding the Environment Agency’s awareness, response and action relating to these sites.

"I, and the Committee, would also like to thank the local and national journalists who have given residents a voice, by bringing these sites to the public attention, and demanded action for local communities and the environment.”

Makerfield MP Josh Simons added: "Baroness Sheehan is right to ask questions about how these illegal waste sites are being handled.

"Time and again, the process has been confusing, slow, unclear. But one thing I've always been clear on is that this is an absolute nightmare for residents and they deserve to have it taken seriously and swiftly dealt with. “Progress is being made, but this should never have happened, and it should be easier and faster to clean up."

Over the summer, the Environment Agency has continued to investigate the waste site as part of its significant and complex criminal investigation and has started to interview people under caution

It has identified several sites, people and companies where the waste may have originated from, or has been involved in the movement of the waste.

It has also sent out several formal notices to those parties with an interest in the land at Bolton House Road, requiring the waste to be removed.

Partners including Wigan Council, Greater Manchester Police, United Utilities and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service continue to meet regularly as part of a multiagency operation.

Members of the public who have information about the waste deposited on the site and those involved can report this to the Environment Agency on its incident hotline – 0800 807060.