West Lancashire MP Ashley Dalton has urged the Environment Agency to take immediate action to clear waste remaining at the controversial Simonswood Industrial Estate site, saying residents have suffered from odour, dust and health concerns for too long.
In a letter to Environment Agency area director Carol Holt, Ms Dalton welcomed new Government measures aimed at tackling waste crime but said stronger intervention was needed at the Simonswood site, where large mounds of waste remain despite the operator's permit being revoked.
The call comes after Windmill Services, which operated at the site, had its environmental permit revoked earlier this year.
According to Ms Dalton, the company has now left the site and no further waste is being deposited, but residents continue to complain about the impact of waste already stored there.
Posting on social media, Ms Dalton said: “The mounds of waste remain, continuing the Simonswood Stink.
“This situation has been going on for far too long and local folk are fed up.
“That's why I've written to the Environment Agency to ask them to intervene and clear the remaining waste immediately.”
In the letter, dated September 18, Ms Dalton said waste at the site had "long been a concern" for residents in West Lancashire and neighbouring Knowsley.
She said waste piled several times higher than permitted had generated foul odours in the local area, while heavy vehicle movements restricted roads and created significant amounts of dust.
The MP added: “My constituents have reported having to close their windows, being unable to use their own gardens and needing to prevent their children from playing outside.
Some have reported physical sickness, breathing problems and persistent sore throats from the smell and dust emitted from the site.”
Ms Dalton said she had been raising concerns about the site with local leaders and parliamentary colleagues since 2023.
She also referenced a Westminster Hall debate secured by neighbouring MP Anneliese Midgley earlier this year and a joint letter sent to ministers regarding responsibility for maintaining roads around the site.
While welcoming recent enforcement action, including permit revocations and investigations undertaken by the Environment Agency's specialist enforcement team, she argued that these measures did not address the waste already remaining on the land.
Ms Dalton pointed to a recent Environment Agency intervention at a site in Sheffield and asked for similar action to be taken at Simonswood.
She wrote: “Given the alarming reports of ill health in mine and Anneliese's constituencies, I kindly request that the Environment Agency will similarly intervene to remove the waste from Simonswood.
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“I appreciate that careful consideration needs to be given to avoid exacerbating the odour during its removal. However, this issue has persisted for too long, and immediate action is now required.”
The MP also requested an update on any Environment Agency investigation into Windmill Services following reports that the company had abandoned the site.
Ms Dalton said she would keep residents updated on any response from the Environment Agency and on the next steps in efforts to secure clearance of the remaining waste.
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