The 25,000 tonnes of stinking toxic waste bang in the middle of the Makerfield battleground
The former Wigan pit village of Bickershaw was once renowned for its proud coal mining heritage.
But more recent notoriety for the place involves an overground accumulation of 25,000 tonnes of toxic waste rather than the rich mineral resources deep below ground.
Last summer an “ocean of rubbish” emerged and later a week-long fire saw tonnes of waste burned, emitting dangerous fumes and forcing nearby schools to close.
A criminal investigation is underway to find out who was responsible for dumping the rubbish at the former scrapyard on Bolton House Road.
Attempts to clean-up the nightmare dump were then hampered by arguments over who should pay for it.
Only in March did the government say it will directly fund the clean-up with the Environment Agency (EA) given more powers to enforce waste crime.
But angry locals have expressed surprise at how multiple lorries carrying rubbish to the site piled waste up to 20m high over several months beginning in January 2025.
Three months after the clean up was announced the dump is still there with shocking images showing thousands of black and blue bin bags full of household rubbish like nappies as well as harmful chemicals and plastics littering the area.
Earlier this month, West Midlands Police arrested a 58-year-old man from the Birmingham area in connection with alleged environmental; fraud; and money laundering offences. He was later released on conditional bail pending further investigation, an EA spokesperson said.
The village, between Wigan and Leigh, also forms part of the Makerfield constituency, where it has now been confirmed that 14 candidates from 11 different parties and three independents will contest a nationally important by-election on June 18.
We asked villagers in Bickershaw whether the toxic dump issue will affect their vote and about other matters resonate with them ahead of the by-election.
Bickershaw resident Lola Elliott, 36, shudders as she recalls the events of the summer of 2025 in the village and surrounding Bickershaw CE Junior School, which her daughter attends.
“You could see all the waste piling up from the school when you picked the kids up,” she said.
“Day after day, mountains of it growing, right there next to the playing fields.
“Then it set on fire. The school was shut for two weeks, my daughter was away from classes and the playing fields were closed for longer.
“It was too dangerous because of the fumes, it’s just wrong isn’t it?
“It’s upsetting because it was summer and kids should be outside playing, forming memories.”
Lola added that during the subsequent months, she had been kept informed by the local MP, Josh Simons about the issue.
She said that it wasn’t the key issue that would decide her vote but ‘it’s sad that that’s what Bickershaw is now known for’.
Walking down Bickershaw Lane, Andrea Thompson, 55, was on the way to care for her 86-year-old mother.
Asked about the village’s toxic dump she said: “We’ve just had our house done up.
“But I often think if if I had the money I’d move away.
“As well as that it’s all the kids riding scooters and bikes at all speeds on the pavements.
“It’s really, really dangerous. I have to remind my mum to look both ways coming out of her front gate and you never know what’s whizzing by.
“Where’s the jobs for young people and the part-time jobs, Saturday jobs for teenagers?
“When I was that age I had a job glass collecting at Hindley Labour Club.
“It gave me confidence and I felt valued, loved even. Kids don’t get that now.”
Andrea said she was ‘wavering’ over who to vote for on June 18 and smiling, said she had ‘rowed with her husband’ on the matter earlier this week.
On Victoria Terrace, Bickershaw, the unadopted road is bordered by the waste dump site, which has not yet been cleared and the school playing field.
A 66-year-old man, who asked not to be named said: “There are rats everywhere but after the waste started piling up there were loads more.
“You’d see them almost every day and the smell and dust would inundate the house.
“We were kept up to date by the MP Josh Simons, he did his best I think.
I voted Labour earlier this month will do again in the byelection. It’s not had an affect on that.”
Andy Watkinson, 46 also lives close to the Bolton House Road site.
He said: “To be completely honest I’ve not noticed any smell.
“Mind you, my previous home was close to Trafford Park so in my opinion anywhere would smell better.
“The fire last summer, seemed to go on for ages, days and days, you could see the fire service laying hoses the length of the street.
“I know about the Makerfield election but don’t often vote. “To me all of them are full of sh*te’.”
The full list of candidates for the Makerfield by election is:
Jake Austin – Liberal Democrats
Count Binface – Count Binface Party
Andy Burnham – Labour and Co-operative Party
Dan Clarke – Libertarian Party
John Dyer – Independent
Ed Gemmell – Climate Party
Paul Gould – Independent
Howling Laud Hope – The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Rob Kenyon – Reform UK
Robert Pownall – Independent
Rebecca Shepherd – Restore Britain
Sarah Wakefield – Green Party
Peter Ward – Rejoin EU Bring in PR
Michael Winstanley – Conservative Party