Illegal waste site, Bolton House Road, Bickershaw, FAQs

Illegal waste site, Bolton House Road, Bickershaw, FAQs

The illegal waste site at Bolton House Road has had, and continues to have, a daily impact on residents who live nearby and on the bordering primary school and communities.

The Environment Agency (EA) has been leading a criminal investigation into the incident and is using their powers to require landowners to clear the waste.

Wigan Council has been working with the EA and other agencies as part of a multi-agency recovery group, working hard to minimise the impact wherever possible on the public and the environment. 

The Council has appointed a single point of contact so residents have a consistent person they can raise issues with and ask questions. The Council’s in-house pest team are also carrying out extensive work in the area to minimise any impact from the site.  

We continue to implore all landowners to take the necessary steps to fulfil their own obligations, and we call on the government to make funding available – via the Environment Agency or other department – to help remove the waste, as has been done for other sites.    

This webpage provides factual information about the illegal waste site at Bolton House Road in Bickershaw and the actions being taken by the Council and partner agencies. Public health information can also be found towards the bottom of the page for local residents who may be concerned about odour and air quality.

What is happening at Bolton House Road and how did the site get into the current condition?

Large quantities of waste were illegally deposited at Bolton House Road, including material that was deposited onto council owned land during the incident and fire response in July 2025.

Following reports of illegal activity on privately owned land in late 2024 and early 2025, the Environment Agency (EA) began an investigation. At the time of the initial site visit, only a limited amount of waste was present. The EA has since advised that significant quantities of waste were deposited unlawfully over a short period of time after that visit, leading to the scale of the issue now being addressed.

The EA is currently leading a complex criminal investigation to identify those responsible for the illegal dumping and to take enforcement action, while partner agencies continue to manage safety, environmental impacts, and site remediation.

Why is the Council involved in clearing the waste?

When waste is illegally deposited on land, the responsibility sits with the landowner to clear it at their own cost. As some of the illegally deposited waste is on council owned land, at the neighbouring Diggle Flash, the Council is taking action to remove this as one of the impacted landowners. The Council expects to remove around 8,000 cubic metres of waste.

Who are the other landowners?

In addition to Wigan Council, there are a handful of other impacted landowners at the site. The EA are using the powers they have to instruct other landowners to clear their land.

As reported in recent news articles, around 30% of the site is owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, which is the King’s private estate of land, property, and assets. The land was transferred to the King's private portfolio in a process known as escheat, as the land is owned by a dissolved company.

As per media reports, there has been initial correspondence with the Duchy of Lancaster around transferring the land to the Council. The council would need to consider the terms of any arrangement of land transfer since it is unlikely the value of the land would surpass the clean-up cost.

Is the Council removing waste from private land?

No. The Council’s works are limited to land it owns. Waste located on private land remains the responsibility of the relevant landowners and the legal process to enforce this is ongoing. The EA has issued formal notices to those with an interest in the land, requiring the waste to be removed or legal action may follow.

Why has waste not been cleared yet?

Various agencies have requested funding to be sourced to clear the whole site, work on this is ongoing but not yet available (as of March 2026).

Illegal waste sites are complex to resolve. The Environment Agency has an ongoing criminal investigation and it has served legal notices to landowners. If they don’t comply then legal action may be taken. The Council has sampled the waste to identify the properly-licensed disposal routes, and procured suitable contractors to clear its land.

These steps are necessary to ensure that any clearance is lawful, safe, and does not undermine enforcement action.

When will the waste be cleared?

Clearance of waste on council owned land is expected to begin in spring and is anticipated to take around six weeks, depending on weather conditions and the availability of licensed disposal facilities.

Timescales for waste on private land cannot yet be confirmed.

When waste is removed, how will smells, dust and fire risk be managed?

The contractors who tendered to clear the Council’s land were required to explain:

• Their plan for removing the waste
• How they will manage impacts such as odour, dust, litter, mud and fire risk
• How they will control the effects of excavation and transportation
• The disposal routes they intend to use.

Further details on Council waste removal

As the Council does not own the land at the front of the site, access to remove waste will be from the rear - using the path through Diggle Flash and an access point on Smith’s Lane. Ecological surveys have been completed to ensure the works minimise impact on wildlife and habitats.

There will be increased vehicle movements while waste is being removed. Traffic will be managed using controlled routes, while some footpaths close to the site may be temporarily closed or diverted for safety reasons. Any changes will be clearly signposted, and alternative routes will be provided where possible to protect both public safety and the environment.

Are there measures in place to manage odour?

Site inspections carried out by the EA have been ongoing and have not identified significant off site odour impacts. However, we recognise that odours can fluctuate throughout the day and with changing weather conditions, and we know that unpleasant smells continue to affect the local community.

Is there a risk of fire?

The fire risk is being actively managed. A fire plan is in place in coordination with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. Measures have been agreed to ensure that local water supplies remain protected should another fire occur.

How is activity at the site being monitored?

Activity at the site is being actively monitored and managed through a combination of security measures and regular multiagency oversight.

A CCTV camera is installed at the top of the road to monitor access and activity. In addition, frequent site visits are carried out by the Environment Agency, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and Wigan Council. These measures are in place to deter illegal activity, monitor site conditions, ensure public safety, and support ongoing enforcement and investigation work.

• The site is also monitored for pests and vermin. As a precaution, local drainage has also been baited and wider baiting is planned. Monitoring will continue throughout the clearance period.

How are residents being kept informed?

Residents are being kept updated through newsletters, the Council’s website FAQs, public meetings, and ongoing engagement with partner agencies. Further updates will be provided as the situation progresses.

Who are the council working with to address the situation?

The Council is working with the following agencies to continue to address the situation and minimise impacts to residents:

• Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS)
• Environment Agency
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
• Lancashire Wildlife Trust
• Greater Manchester Police (GMP)
• United Utilities
• Josh Simons MP.

Further information and reporting advice:

• Residents can report odours via the council’s statutory nuisance reporting process
  Completed odour monitoring logs can also be submitted to Angela Addis who is the single point of contact (SPOC) and can be emailed at [email protected]
• Suspected illegal activity can be reported to the Environment Agency incident hotline 0800 80 70 60
• Immediate danger can be reported to the police by calling 999
• Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you have concerns about your individual circumstances and require health advice.

For more information, view the government's guidance on odour management (external link).

Public health information

Are the odours causing or going to cause health effects?

The human nose is very sensitive. Many things have a strong smell at levels at which there are no direct harmful effects to health. However, strong smells are unpleasant and can impact on wellbeing leading to stress and anxiety.

Some people may also experience symptoms, such as nausea, headaches or dizziness, as a reaction to strong smells, even when the substances that cause those smells are themselves not harmful to health. Following exposure to any substance, the adverse health effects depend on several factors, including the amount to which you are exposed (dose), the way in which you are exposed, the duration of exposure, the form of the chemical and if you were exposed to any other chemicals.

What symptoms may I experience as a result of odour?

Short-term transient health effects may be experienced such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. People who have health conditions that affect breathing, such as asthma, may experience increased frequency and/or severity of symptoms. With continuing exposure, these effects may be prolonged but are not anticipated to continue long-term once exposure is reduced.

What does this mean for me?

In indoor settings, to limit the effects of the odour as much as possible, we would advise:

• Close windows if there is an outdoor odour and open them once any outdoor odour has reduced. You could consider closing windows at night and opening them in the morning in the absence of odour
• Ventilate your property when there is no odour outdoors
• Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you have concerns about your individual circumstances and require health advice.

For the nearby school’s outdoor club or its activities, we would advise:

• Keep as far away from the affected area as you can as the odour may still be unpleasant
• Be aware of the potential for odour levels to become more apparent for example early morning or late at night and when the wind is coming from the direction of the site
• Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you have concerns about your individual circumstances and require health advice.

What can I smell?

The odour is caused by waste decomposing. This is similar to the odours that are contained within a domestic bin. It poses little risk to human health.

Why do smells seem worse late at night/early in the morning?

Odours can be more apparent and travel further under certain atmospheric conditions, often linked to temperature inversions. During an inversion, a layer of cooler air near the ground can trap odorous gases, preventing them from dispersing as effectively as they might during the day. Reports from residents help regulators and officers understand when and under what conditions impacts are most noticeable.

What are the impacts of moving the waste and measures in place to manage odour?

As we begin to remove the waste, there is likely to be an increase in odour as the rubbish is disturbed. During clearance works, contractors will be required to implement odour control and dust suppression measures.

What measures are in place to monitor odour and air quality?

Site inspections carried out by the EA have been ongoing and have not identified significant off‑site impacts. However, we recognise that odours can fluctuate throughout the day and with changing weather conditions, and we know that unpleasant smells continue to affect the local community.

We are working with UK Health Security Agency who provide us with evidence-based, professional, scientific expertise and support in relation to potential health risks of emissions. UKHSA has no statutory powers in relation to waste sites and therefore works with multi-agency partners to ensure public health is protected.