POLICE, fire and council bosses promise to put an end to residents 'ongoing frustrations' with a problem waste site.

T. H Smith in Great Harwood has been causing concerns among the community for more than a year with constant anti social behaviour and crime.

In the last 12 months firefighters have been called to the Meadow Street site more than 75 times.

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In a bid to tackle the issues the authorities said they are taking a 'multi agency approach'.

Hyndburn Council has also revoked the scrap metal licence and is seeking to use powers to stop further scrap metal trading on site.

A spokesman on behalf of Hyndburn Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and Lancashire police said: "In recent weeks there has been an increase in reports from members of the public concerned about activities associated with the T. H Smith Ltd site in Great Harwood.

“It is unacceptable that residents should have to live side-by-side with unpleasant and offensive activities on their doorstep.

"We understand and share public frustrations.

"Over the last year we have met regularly and worked together to use all the legal tools we have available to us to disrupt and prevent crime, disorder, public nuisance and environmental harm caused by operations at the site.

"We have had some successes but acknowledge that they have been short-lived and brought limited respite.

"Unfortunately long-term solutions require a long-term approach, but all the agencies involved continue to take these issues seriously and are placing extensive resources behind trying to secure the legal solutions needed."

Police have also issued a Community Protection Notice, which prohibits certain anti social behaviours. Officers said the notice has now been breached and sanctions imposed.

Officers are said to be 'actively pursuing 'an application for the next level of this legislation.

The spokesman added: "The council has an ongoing investigation into illegal burning activities on the site with a view to pursuing legal action and is carrying out air pollution monitoring to help establish whether there is any potential impact on peoples’ health from the emissions of smoke and fumes.

“Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service continue to attend the site frequently..

"Firefighters are not able to gain automatic right of entry where there is no imminent risk to life or threat to property and on most occasions thankfully this risk isn’t present.

"Where the fire has found to be a public nuisance, and where there has been life and property risk the service has entered and extinguished fires.

"Police have issued a Community Protection Notice. This notice has now been breached and sanctions imposed.

The police are actively pursuing an application for the next level of this legislation.

“We believe the site is operating illegally and without the appropriate environmental permits.

" The Environment Agency has an ongoing investigation focussing on the illegal waste activities.

"A prosecution trial led by the Environment Agency is due to take place in early July related to previous illegal waste activity on the site.

“All the agencies involved understand our communities’ ongoing frustration but reassure people of our intent to continue to use every possible avenue open to us to secure a lasting outcome.

" As long as this criminal and anti-social behaviour continues, we will relentlessly pursue every avenue open to us to restore the community for residents.

"We thank our communities for their patience and continued support."

Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.