Owners of illegal Oswaldtwistle waste tip ordered to prevent further dangers

1:00pm Saturday 29th September 2012 in News

OWNERS of an illegal waste tip site have been ordered to prevent further dangers to the public.

The Health and Safety Executive has issued a legal notice to the owners of the former NIPA laboratories site on Nook Lane, to close off the area from local children, according to MP Graham Jones.

Safety concerns are thought to have been raised as the contaminated site contains huge dug out craters, which have filled with water in recent downpours.

The Environment Agency are said to have also served notices ordering owners Lockgate Mount Ltd to submit a water management plan. The plan would address how to fill in or remove the craters and to prevent groundwater seeping into the nearby brook.

Concerns had been raised by local campaigners and politicians that dangers still remained, after the removal of illegally tipped waste. Hundreds of bales of rubbish, dumped without permits or planning permission, had caused huge swarms of flies to plague local homes.

MP Graham Jones said the agencies involved were working very hard to resolve the remaining dangers. He said: “The Health and Safety Executive wish to see the site fenced off and proper security provided.

“There is also a general issue about safety on the site. The EA are demanding that Lockgate produce a plan to ensure water does not run off and contaminate the surrounding area. There is also the issue of the craters, which need to be either filled in or drained.

“Both agencies tell me that if these notices are ignored, it will see a criminal prosecution launched. The agencies are working really hard on this and I know they plan another meeting with residents soon.”

The Environment Agency said they continue to work with the owners and other agencies and said they would continue to sample water at the site to monitor contamination.

Comments (2)

4:48pm Sat 29 Sep 12

jogalot says...

I will believe it when I see it. Although the Environment Agency and/or the Health and Safety Executive and/or Hyndburn Council and/or other agencies should be congratulated for getting the flies and mountains of waste removed, I still retain my cynicism that these agencies do not work together well, in fact they deliberately blur the lines so that they can shift the responsibility away from themselves, imho. If Graham Jones can get them to clarify exactly who is responsible for exactly what and can then keep reminding them of their duties to enforce the notices, then hopefully the owners will comply.

Nothing is mentioned about the toxic chemicals on the site. Are they trying to prevent the public from panicking, maybe? I hope the fencing and groundwater measures are enough and not just a PR or quality control exercise.

Brookside Lane where it has become a path alongside Lottice Brook is now flooded whenever it rains due to water flowing from the site making it almost impassible for anyone without wellies so it will be a big job for the owners to contain this volume of water. I hope the EA know exactly which is site water and which is from rivulets from surrounding land and the measures they require fully ensure the sources are not mixed.

Well done for getting rid of the waste and for requiring the owners to take these safety measure. Now let us see if the agencies and executives can follow up with strict enforcement.
I will believe it when I see it. Although the Environment Agency and/or the Health and Safety Executive and/or Hyndburn Council and/or other agencies should be congratulated for getting the flies and mountains of waste removed, I still retain my cynicism that these agencies do not work together well, in fact they deliberately blur the lines so that they can shift the responsibility away from themselves, imho. If Graham Jones can get them to clarify exactly who is responsible for exactly what and can then keep reminding them of their duties to enforce the notices, then hopefully the owners will comply. Nothing is mentioned about the toxic chemicals on the site. Are they trying to prevent the public from panicking, maybe? I hope the fencing and groundwater measures are enough and not just a PR or quality control exercise. Brookside Lane where it has become a path alongside Lottice Brook is now flooded whenever it rains due to water flowing from the site making it almost impassible for anyone without wellies so it will be a big job for the owners to contain this volume of water. I hope the EA know exactly which is site water and which is from rivulets from surrounding land and the measures they require fully ensure the sources are not mixed. Well done for getting rid of the waste and for requiring the owners to take these safety measure. Now let us see if the agencies and executives can follow up with strict enforcement. jogalot

10:33pm Tue 23 Oct 12

hairy mary says...

ill out a sign up saying get off my land
ill out a sign up saying get off my land hairy mary

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