Wigan's Toxic Waste Dump Crisis: Lords Demand Urgent Clean-Up Near School
A massive illegal waste dump in Wigan, containing an estimated 25,000 tonnes of refuse, has been labelled "a grave environmental hazard" by the chair of the House of Lords environment committee. Shas Sheehan has challenged the Environment Agency's refusal to clear the site on Bolton House Road in the Greater Manchester town, highlighting its proximity to a primary school and the severe public health implications.
Public Health Imperatives and Environmental Risks
Lady Sheehan, who visited the site in the village of Bickershaw, emphasised that a clean-up is urgently required due to both environmental dangers and public health imperatives. In a letter to the government, she stated: "While the committee understands that the Environment Agency is not funded to clear illegal waste sites, there are clearly circumstances in which it can do so under ministerial direction."
The illegal dump, situated adjacent to a primary school, previously caught fire last summer, burning for ten consecutive days. This major incident forced the school to close and compelled local residents to keep their windows shut to avoid hazardous fumes. Sheehan warned of the risk of further fires as temperatures rise, alongside other escalating problems.
Escalating Hazards and Rodent Infestations
Sheehan detailed the worsening conditions at the site, noting that it is demonstrably not an inert facility. She predicted that rat infestations would proliferate with warmer weather, driving rodents towards nearby homes in search of food. Additionally, flies and maggots are expected to breed prolifically once again.
"The pervasive stench already apparent during my January visit will intensify markedly," she added, painting a grim picture of the site's impact on the local community.
Government Response and Funding Challenges
According to Sue Hayman, parliamentary undersecretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, the Environment Agency has developed plans to remove the waste in Wigan, but only if funds become available. In a letter, Hayman explained that the agency decided to clean up a similar illegal waste dump in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, due to significant environmental risks, and an ongoing clean-up at Hoad's Wood in Kent was deemed necessary as an exceptional case.
However, the minister stated: "The EA does not consider the Bolton House Road site to carry the same level of risk."
Ownership Issues and Legal Complications
The government revealed that the largest area of land where the waste was dumped in Wigan has no owner. Under the common law escheat principle, it has now reverted to the ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster. "At present, the EA and partners have no powers to require the Duchy of Lancaster to clear that land," Hayman added.
A spokesperson for the Duchy of Lancaster responded: "We remain fully committed to working with Wigan council and the Environment Agency to address this issue and to counter the impact of illegal waste tipping."
Ongoing Criminal Investigations
Criminal investigations are currently underway into the illegal dumping incidents in both Kidlington and Wigan. In connection with the Kidlington case, four men have been arrested and released while the investigation continues. These cases underscore the broader issue of waste crime across the UK, which some have termed "the new narcotics" due to its environmental devastation.
The situation in Wigan highlights critical challenges in environmental regulation, public health protection, and inter-agency cooperation, with local residents and schoolchildren bearing the immediate brunt of this unresolved crisis.
