Information about the situation at Nook Lane, Oswaldtwistle - updated 3 August 2012.
Background
The Environment Agency is investigating a former chemical works site in Nook Lane, Oswaldtwistle which is involved in the alleged deposit of approximately 4,000-5,000 bales of household and commercial waste. We would like to reassure residents that we are taking this very seriously and we are investigating this site as a priority.
As part of this operation, we are working closely with Hyndburn Borough Council and Lancashire County Council to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.
What are we doing?
We are committed to a sampling program over the next 4 weeks. We have also carried out an ecological assessment on the 24/25 July that indicates that there has been no significant impact on the brook. If you have any environmental concerns relating to this site please report them by calling our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Hyndburn Borough Council's Environment Health Team are aware of the concerns raised by local residents and businesses. They are working with the operators to ensure that the fly problem is resolved as soon as possible. Anyone who is concerned about flies please call Hyndburn Council on 01254 388 111.
Our officers will be onsite on Saturday 4 August to supervise the movement of waste by Blakeley's Waste Management Limited.
What’s the latest news?
Waste
The waste that was involved in the fire on the site last week has now been removed from the site.
Waste is being taken to a landfill site called Whiney Hill, which has the relevant permits in place to accept household, commercial waste. Our officers will be onsite at Whiney Hill to monitor waste being disposed.
1900 bales have been moved and disposed of over the last seven days. We are happy that these bales contain only household, commercial waste.
The Environment Agency are carrying out a full investigation into the reasons why the waste came to be on land in Oswaldtwistle. This is a complex investigation and as such we have a team of officers working on this as priority. Once we understand the full picture, we will be looking at what form of enforcement action is appropriate for us to take against those involved.
For legal reasons we cannot give more details out at this stage, but once we have concluded our investigations, and know what our enforcement action will be, we will update the local community.
Water
As part of our ongoing investigations, we found that some of the drainage from the old industrial site is finding it’s way into the brook.
We will continue to sample the water quality to understand the impact this is having on the local brook. We have met with the landowner onsite (8 August) Lockgate to ask how they plan to remedy this issue.
We will keep in close contact with the landowners to ensure that they provide us with detailed plans and ensure that works required are carried out quickly and efficiently.
Once the sample results come back from our labs they will be assessed and we will publish the results to you on this page.
Our officers are currently working to answer all of your questions, and we will use this page to answer them.
We are working with Hyndburn Borough Council in relation to this issue.
Would you like to know more?
We will update this website in the coming days and whenever there is a significant change relating to the site.
