Key facts
- A 25,000-tonne illegal waste dump in Bickershaw has been present for over 20 months.
- The dump is located next to a primary school and has caused environmental and health hazards, including a nine-day fire.
- Residents perceive the dump as a symbol of the north-south divide and governmental neglect.
- The Environment Agency has committed to clearing the site, but the process has not yet commenced.
- The issue has become a key talking point in the Makerfield byelection campaign.
A significant illegal waste dump in Bickershaw, Greater Manchester, has become a central issue in the upcoming Makerfield byelection, with residents highlighting it as a symbol of the perceived north-south divide in the UK.
The site, containing an estimated 25,000 tonnes of household and trade rubbish, has been accumulating for over 20 months. Its proximity to a primary school and residential streets has led to environmental and public health concerns, including a nine-day fire last summer that forced school closures and kept residents indoors due to toxic fumes.
Residents express frustration that the dump's continued existence demonstrates how the north of England has been neglected. They contrast the slow response to the Bickershaw site with the swift action taken to clear a similar illegal dump in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, last year, which involved parliamentary intervention and significant government funding.
While the outgoing Labour MP, Josh Simons, actively campaigned for the Environment Agency (EA) to address the Bickershaw dump, and the government announced funding for its clearance, no removal work has yet begun. This lack of visible progress is a major concern for locals.
Megan Burnham, the Manchester Mayor and Labour candidate for Makerfield, has acknowledged the dump's impact and included it in his campaign efforts. Reform UK has also seized on the issue, calling the dump an example of national decline under both Conservative and Labour governments and promising a 'national action day' for community cleanups.
Despite Reform's messaging, local sentiment appears to favor Burnham, who has positioned himself as a champion for the North. Residents like Nicha Rowson and Doris have expressed confidence in Burnham's ability to address the issue, citing his previous work in Manchester and his vocal advocacy for the region. Colin Peters also plans to vote for Burnham, believing he is the only candidate who has directly addressed the dump and its impact on property prices and local quality of life.
The Duchy of Lancaster, which now owns a portion of the land where the dump encroaches, stated its commitment to working with Wigan council and the EA. The EA confirmed ongoing contact with local authorities and residents to expedite the cleanup, noting that certain preparatory steps must be completed before clearance can commence.