STORY
Two men have been arrested as part of an Environment Agency investigation into suspected illegal waste dumping on agricultural land near Middlewich in Cheshire. The investigation centres on a large waste site at a farm on Coal Pit Lane, where substantial quantities of waste have been deposited next to the River Wheelock.
A 69-year-old local man was arrested at the site on Friday 7 August on suspicion of waste offences after the Environment Agency requested assistance from Cheshire Police. A second local man, aged 37, was arrested at the same location during a planned follow-up operation on Monday 10 August. Both men have since been released on bail while enquiries continue.
The Environment Agency said the site contains significant quantities of green garden waste, construction material, plastics, tyres, shredded waste and mixed household rubbish. All of the material had been deposited on agricultural land and the site has been subject to what the agency described as a complex ongoing investigation into suspected illegal activity.
Caroline Berry, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency, said waste crime damaged both communities and the environment and that the arrests formed part of a wider programme of enforcement action. The agency published a 10 Point Plan for tackling waste crime in March, aimed at speeding up enforcement, improving detection and targeting suspected offenders more effectively.
Cheshire Police said waste crime could cause long lasting environmental damage as well as damaging the landscape. Officers said they would continue working with the Environment Agency as the investigation progresses and appealed for anyone with information about the Middlewich site to come forward.
Residents and businesses have also been reminded to check that companies removing their waste are properly licensed. Authorities warned that waste offered for disposal at unusually low prices could ultimately be dumped illegally and that the original owner of the waste could still face a fine if it is traced back to them.