STORY
Four men have been arrested during an Environment Agency investigation into large scale illegal waste dumping at Bolton House Road in Wigan. Police officers supporting the operation arrested men aged 41 and 35 from Wigan, a 24 year old from Leeds and a 59 year old from Liverpool on suspicion of environmental, fraud and money laundering offences.
The Bolton House Road site has generated complaints from nearby residents about smells and other disruption. A fire lasting a week led to nearby schools closing during the previous summer. The Environment Agency said the investigation was being led by its National Environmental Crime Unit and was intended to establish responsibility for the material deposited at the site.
The 24 year old was also arrested in connection with alleged waste dumping at Cave’s Inn Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest near Shawell in Leicestershire. The arrests form part of continuing inquiries and no charges have yet been announced. Agencies involved said evidence obtained during the operation would now be examined before decisions on further action were taken.