Key facts
- Four men have been arrested in connection with illegal waste dumping at a site on Bolton House Road in Wigan.
- The arrests are part of an investigation by the Environment Agency into environmental, fraud, and money laundering offenses.
- The site has been a source of misery for locals, with a fire last July causing school closures and persistent foul smells.
- One of the arrested men is also linked to alleged dumping at Cave's Inn Pits in Leicestershire, a site of special scientific interest.
- Authorities have installed concrete blocks to prevent further dumping, and government assurances have been given for cleanup funds.
Four men have been arrested as part of an investigation into a large-scale illegal waste dump on Bolton House Road in Wigan, England. The site, described as 'infamous' and a source of misery for locals, has been the subject of an investigation by the Environment Agency (EA) since illegal activity was first reported in 2024.
The arrests were made by officers from Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire Police, and West Yorkshire Police on suspicion of environmental, fraud, and money laundering offenses. The individuals arrested include two men aged 41 and 35 from Wigan, a 24-year-old from Liverpool, and a 24-year-old from Leeds.
This operation follows the arrest of a 58-year-old man from Birmingham in May on similar charges. The suspect from Leeds is also being investigated in connection with alleged dumping at Cave's Inn Pits in Leicestershire, a designated site of special scientific interest.
The Wigan site has caused significant problems for the community, including a week-long fire last July that led to the closure of local schools and persistent foul odors reported by residents. Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited the site and characterized the dumping as 'organised crime,' pledging to end the profitability of such activities. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle emphasized the government's 'zero-tolerance approach to waste crime' and assured that regulators have the resources to dismantle criminal operations.
To prevent further dumping, Wigan Council has installed concrete blocks at the entrance to the site. The council is also seeking a specialist contractor for cleanup, with government assurances that funds will be provided for the remediation efforts.