Huge clean-up operation underway in Lancashire at one of England's most notorious illegal sites

The site is off Alan Ramsbottom Way in Great Harwood.

The proposed action comes as ministers published the government published its new Waste Crime Action Plan which sets out a zero-tolerance approach, with action to prevent waste crime at its source by closing loopholes and equipping regulators with the tools they need to stop waste criminals.

The Environment Agency (EA) has already conducted preliminary assessments at the Great Harwood site, with a further clean-up assessment to begin immediately at the site after it was prioritised due to the serious and ongoing threat it poses to local community and the environment.

The plan document reveals: “The EA will step in on an exceptional basis to clear sites where that waste presents an untenable risk to the public and the environment. This was seen recently at Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

“However, to accelerate the remediation process and restore our communities and environment, government is now committing to clearing up an additional number of the most egregious illegal waste sites.

“Defra, working with other departments, has developed criteria to objectively identify those sites with the most compelling cases for clearance.

“On-site assessments will begin immediately at: Alan Ramsbottom Way (Hyndburn), Worthing Road (Sheffield) and Bolton House Road (Wigan).”

Area manager for the EA in Cumbria and Lancashire, John Neville said: “We welcome the commitment from the government to assess an illegal waste site in Hyndburn for clearance.

“The waste that’s been dumped there has scarred the local community for a long time as well as impacting on the environment and undermining legitimate businesses.

“A criminal investigation, led by the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, is ongoing and we will look to hold those responsible to account.

“Across Cumbria and Lancashire, our officers, working with our enforcement partners, continue to tackle illegal sites and the criminals behind them.”

Secretary of State for the Environment Emma Reynolds said: “This action plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences.

“Waste criminals will be forced to join clean up squads and made to pay for the clearing of illegal waste sites. We will give enforcement officers new police-style powers to bring offenders to justice.”

The EA has set out how it will act earlier to address illegal activity and deliver more consistent enforcement action.

This includes making greater use of restriction notices – powers that can shut down an illegal waste operation immediately with no warning.

Any operator who ignores a restriction notice faces up to 51 weeks in prison.