The Environment Agency has secured a court order prohibiting anyone from importing waste to the site, known as The Old Cricket Ground, in Bickershaw.
The land neighbours a 25,000 tonne illegal waste site on Bolton House Road, which is spread across property partially owned by Wigan Council and the King’s private estate.
Last month, drone footage was released by Channel 4 that showed two diggers moving waste across the site on Bolton House Road.
An investigation by the Environment Agency found that scrap metal waste was being removed from the dump site to the Old Cricket Ground.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency previously told Circular Online that no new waste has been dumped illegally on the Bolton House Road site.
The Restriction Order was granted at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on 25 February and is active for six months.
Access to the premises is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions, and failure to comply with the order is a criminal offence.
The Bolton House Road is not currently subject to a Restriction Order; however, Wigan Council has issued a Closure Order, which makes it a criminal offence for anyone to enter the site.
As part of the criminal investigation into the dump, several people have been interviewed under caution, but no arrests have been made.
The Environment Agency has also served formal notices requiring the waste to be removed. However, there is a land dispute over who is responsible for clearing the waste.
Under environmental regulations, landowners are typically responsible for clearing waste that has been illegally dumped on their site.
However, the Duchy of Lancaster, which inherited the land due to an ancient law, said it is exempt from regulatory obligations as the estate did not inherit any liabilities attached to the property.
The local MP, Josh Simons, has called on the King’s estate to pay for its share of the clean-up costs and a petition calling on the King to fund the clearance of the waste site has reached almost 20,000 signatures.
The Duchy of Lancaster has offered to transfer the land to Wigan Council; however, the local authority says it is unlikely the value of the land would surpass the clean-up cost.
Mark Easedale, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, commented: “We have immense sympathy for the local community affected by this waste crime, which continues to have an impact on the people who live and work in the area.”
“We are doing everything within our powers to identify the perpetrators, including launching a major criminal investigation and interviewing individuals under caution.”
