Latest news with #Bickershaw
BBC News
10-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wigan 'toxic' waste fire forces children to miss school
A "toxic" waste fire which had been burning for more than a week has forced nearby businesses to close and children to miss several days of school, an MP has said. A major incident has been declared after the blaze broke out on Bolton House Road in Bickershaw, Wigan, which firefighters finally put out earlier after 10 days. Labour MP for Makerfield Josh Simons said the fire, thought to have started with illegally-dumped waste, "never should have happened" and that he had been asking for assistance from the Environment Agency to clear the waste site for months. The Environment Agency has been contacted for comment. In a letter written to Environment Secretary Steve Reed, Simons said children at the nearby Bickershaw CofE Primary had missed "multiple days at school" because of the fire and that United Utilites was dealing with "toxic water run off". "In this fire, the people I represent are suffering again because their voices have not been heard and their warnings have fallen through the cracks between agencies," Simons Council said the school had since re-opened. The authority said it had declared a major incident on Tuesday because of how long the fire had been burning and the resources it required. The authority said it was working with the Environment Agency to look into alleged illegal dumping at the site. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
'Major incident' declared in Greater Manchester town amid 'illegal waste' fire
A major incident has been declared after a major fire at an 'illegal waste' dump continues to rage on more than a week later. The fire broke out, involving thousands of tonnes of illegal waste, along Bolton House Road in the Bickershaw area of Wigan last Tuesday evening (June 1). Fire crews raced to the scene to tackle the blaze and urged people nearby to keep their windows and doors closed. Emergency services remain on the scene eight days after the fire erupted, with smoke continuing to smoulder, which posed a risk to nearby residents. The fire service also remain on scene using machinery to move the waste and continue dampening hotspots. READ MORE: Met Office expands thunderstorm warning as flash floods could hit UK - full list of areas affected READ MORE: Emmerdale fans 'rumble' Eddie's link to unexpected villager in Kim Tate 'con' Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here The former scrapyard has recently been used as an illegal rubbish dump littered with scrap vehicles, tyres and thousands of binbags containing household waste. Last week, MP for Makerfield, Josh Simons, said he chaired an emergency meeting with police, the fire service and local council over the issue, and said he was 'p***ed off' that the blaze had been allowed to occur, despite repeated attempts at trying to get the area cleared of the waste and voicing the concerns of nearby residents. "I've been flagging it for months and I've been asking for timelines and not always got them," he said in a social media video. "I am p***ed off that this has happened. You are too. And we are going to get answers." In an update on Wednesday (July 9), Wigan Council confirmed it had declared a major incident over the fire, due to the timescale and resourced needed at the scene to continue tackling the blaze. A 24/7 hotline was also set up for residents affected by the fire, with local businesses closing, a school also forced to shut and issues with water pressure at nearby homes also reported. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE "Wigan Council has been working closely with its partner organisations Environment Agency, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and United Utilities to respond to a fire at Bolton House Road, Bickershaw," a statement read. "Wigan Council has assisted the operation by providing additional water tankers and equipment, including cranes and diggers, managing traffic flows and visiting nearby residents to offer support. "We have declared this to be a 'major incident', reflecting the timescale and level of resources required so far. "There has not been a significant deterioration in conditions onsite and there is no reason for residents to be concerned or alarmed. This 'declaration' enables us to bring in more resources and support as we continue to work with GMFRS, United Utilities and other partners to contain the fire and support local residents. "When water pressures dropped, United Utilities delivered bottled water to customers registered on the priority services register, and Wigan Council arranged further temporary bottled water to local households. Residents were also invited to access washing facilities at council-owned leisure centres. "Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service continue to work on site to put out the fire, supported by partners including Wigan Council, United Utilities and Greater Manchester Police." The statement added: "We understand that residents are frustrated with the situation, and we are working hard to resolve this. "There is ongoing partnership working with Environment Agency, Greater Manchester Police, Wigan Council and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency into alleged illegal waste dumping activity at the site." A new letter, penned to Andy Burnham, Wigan Council and the Environment Agency by MP Joshua Simons said: "I am immensely frustrated this fire has happened. Residents first raised this illegal dump with me in the new year. "Since then, I have met regularly with the Environment Agency, GMP and Wigan Council to underscore the major public health and safety risks, including serious fire. We warned this would happen - and we were right. "In this fire, the people I represent are suffering again because their voices have not been heard and their warnings have fallen through the cracks between agencies." The MP for Makerfield has demanded that action is taken to remove the waste swiftly as soon as the fire is eventually put out. In a statement to the M.E.N, he added: "I've written to the Environment Secretary, Steve Reed today, because I want the Environment Agency to be held to account. Greater Manchester Fire Service have been working hard to control the fire. "I know that residents are, like me, grateful for their help. But this fire should never have happened, and it is a huge failure on the part of public bodies that nothing was done about the toxic, illegal site in the months residents were warning about it. "After flooding in January, Andy Burnham and I worked hard to get agencies talking to each other and working together. But it shouldn't be this hard. Good people are being harmed by criminals who should be behind bars. Why should my constituents suffer from a lack of action from public bodies?"
