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18,000-tonne illegal dump to be cleared

Richard BakerNorth West
Wigan Council A digger is on the site, with mounds of rubbish seen behind it. Another digger can be seen in the distance. What looks like a piece of wood is left propped against a green metal fence.Wigan Council
The site is part owned by the Duchy of Lancaster

An illegal dump containing about 18,000 tonnes of rubbish is set to be cleared, the government has announced.

The tip, on Bolton House Road near Bickershaw, Wigan, has built up since 2024.

In July 2025, a ten-day fire broke out at the site, forcing local businesses and a school to close.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed work is now underway to clear the waste, with specialist teams aiming to remove up to 25 lorry loads each day.

In August, while campaigning to win the Makerfield seat, outgoing Metropolitan Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said the site was "blighting communities".

The now-prime minister said at the time that the clean-up job would start "as soon as possible".

Aerial shot of Bickershaw dump. Large mounts of rubbish can be seen piled high .
The waste dump has been building up since October 2024

Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said no community should have to put up with the "misery" of living near an illegal waste dump.

"By putting more officers on the front line and using drones, we will find the thugs responsible for this heinous crime and make sure they face the consequences."

Five people who were arrested as part of the investigation into the dump remain on bail.

The clean-up is expected to be complete by spring, 2027.

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