Wigan Residents Offered Health Support as Illegal Waste Site Clearance Begins

Residents living near a major illegal waste site in Bickershaw are being offered dedicated health and wellbeing checks as work begins to clear thousands of tonnes of waste.

People living around Bolton House Road can access NHS health and blood pressure checks, asthma reviews and mental health support. A survey has also been delivered to nearby homes asking residents whether they have experienced changes in their health during the past year.

The measures follow prolonged concern about the impact of the site, which contains an estimated 18,000 tonnes of illegally deposited material. A serious fire burned there for several days in July 2025, while residents have also reported problems including smoke, unpleasant odours and vermin.

A multi-agency group involving Wigan Council, the Environment Agency, UKHSA and emergency services has previously assessed the site as presenting a low risk to the public. However, officials have acknowledged the disruption, uncertainty and effect on residents’ wellbeing.

Preparatory clearance work has now started, with specialist contractor Acumen Waste Services bringing equipment onto the site ahead of waste removal. The work is expected to continue into 2027, while the Environment Agency’s criminal investigation remains ongoing. Five arrests have been made in connection with suspected environmental, fraud and money-laundering offences.

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