Toxic Waste Site Closed, Cleanup Begins

0:00On March 25, a closure order has been granted for the illegal waste site on Bolton House Road in Bikershaw. Wegan and Lee magistrates approved it on Wednesday, March 25. The order ban's access to the site were about 25,000 tons of toxic waste, including household rubbish and chemicals, has been dumped. The Environment Agency has begun assessments and preparations to remove the massive pile of hazardous material. This follows the government's new Waste Crime Action Plan, which commits millions of pounds for the cleanup. Breaching the order is now a criminal offense, applied for by Wigan Council. Last summer, a week-long fire at the site burned some of the waste and forced nearby schools to close. That incident highlighted the dangers to the local community and sparked a criminal investigation to track down those responsible. Council leaders are relieved by the progress. They praised the central government funding and noted how the council has worked with partners to limit impacts since the fire. A similar restriction was placed on a neighboring site last month after reports of more illegal

1:02activity. With clearance work ramping up and investigations continuing, residents in Bikershaw can look forward to real improvements in their area soon.