Lancashire County Council set to clean up what could be Preston’s worst flytipping spot

A council spokesperson says its neighbourhood services team will clear up the swamp of rubbish that has accumulated outside the Grade II-listed St Luke's Church in Curwen Street. The council will also bill the private landowners for the clearance.

The waste include animal carcasses, several mattresses, a bed, a sofa and piles of clothes, bags, cardboard and other rubbish.

After being declared redundant as a church St Luke's was sold by the Church of England in 1994. The city site is on a residential street, not far from main thoroughfare Ribbleton Lane.

Permission was granted for its conversion to a care home. But it has now been empty for some time and most recently, in March 2021, planning permission was approved to create seven residential luxury apartments in the building.

In a previous statement to the Post, Coun Robert Boswell, Cabinet member for Environment and Community Safety at Preston City Council, said: "Our Street Cleansing and Waste Enforcement team work tirelessly, cleaning up and investigating reports of fly tipping from members of the public. I encourage residents of Preston to report any fly-tipping incidents via our website immediately, giving the team specific details including locations which will enable appropriate action to be taken as soon as possible.”