Closure order granted at illegal waste site as government commits to clearance

Closure order granted at illegal waste site as government commits to clearance

A closure order to restrict access to the illegal waste site at Bolton House Road has been secured by Wigan Council.

Following the announcement of the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan last week, which committed to clearing the Bickershaw waste site, Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court have approved a closure order for the land today (Wednesday 25 March).

The closure order will prevent access to any unauthorised individuals at the Bolton House Road waste site, as assessments and preparations to remove the waste get underway. Breaching the order is a criminal offence.

Leader of Wigan Council, Councillor David Molyneux MBE, said: “The announcement that central government will fund the clearance of the Bolton House Road site is fantastic news for all of the residents and the community who have had to live with the daily impacts of the illegal waste dump. This closure order will ensure that no further illegal activity can take place at the site as it is prepared for clearance.

“Following the fire at the site in July 2025, Wigan Council has been working with the Environment Agency and other partners to minimise the impact on the public and environment, and try to find a solution to the problem.

“We have long called on the government to make funding available to help remove the waste at Bolton House Road, so this is a very welcome announcement that will make a huge difference to the community.”

The commitment also builds on the multi-agency partnership work that has been taking place to try and minimise the impact of the waste site since last year’s fire and preparing so that agencies can move quickly to clear the site, with a previous closure order secured by Wigan Council helping to prevent access and further waste being deposited at the site.

The Environment Agency (EA) also secured a six-month restriction order to prevent access at the neighbouring ‘Old Cricket Ground’ last month, following reports of scrap metal being moved onto the site, and the council continues to support their criminal investigation which has seen various individuals interviewed under caution.

Councillor Paul Prescott, portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport added: “As you can see with similar incidents across the country, illegal waste sites can be incredibly complex to resolve, but there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to sample the waste, understand how to properly dispose of it, manage public health concerns, and prevent further illegal activity taking place.

“This has had a huge impact on the local community in Bickershaw so I would like to thank local residents and partners for their patience and cooperation throughout this process, and I hope to see some progress on the waste removal imminently.

“The council remains committed to taking firm action against illegal waste activity and protecting our communities and local environment.”