THE long-awaited removal of thousands of tonnes of illegally dumped waste at a notorious Bickershaw site is expected to begin next month after a contractor was chosen to carry out the clean-up.
Wigan Council has announced its intention to appoint Acumen Waste Services Limited to clear the waste mountain at Bolton House Road, subject to the completion of contract procedures.
Following a procurement process to find a company capable of safely removing the waste and managing the associated risks, the council expects contracts to be signed in early October. Mobilisation and preparations for waste removal are then planned to start in late October.
The appointment marks a significant milestone in efforts to tackle a site that has blighted the local community and sparked widespread concern since a major fire burned for several days in July 2025.
Cllr Paul Kenny, Wigan Council's portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport, said: "The scale of the illegal waste site at Bolton House Road has had a devastating impact on the local community, so I am delighted that we are now in a position to appoint a contractor and take this important step towards waste removal.
"The appointment is a significant milestone, but residents should have never been put into this position, and we will continue to support the Environment Agency's criminal investigation to punish those responsible for this environmental destruction."
The clean-up is being overseen by a multi-agency partnership involving the Environment Agency, Defra, the UK Health Security Agency, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and United Utilities.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said the Government was taking "decisive action" to clean up the site, while the Environment Agency said appointing a contractor represented "a significant step" towards removing the blight from residents' lives.
Cllr Nazia Rehman, leader of Wigan Council, praised local residents for their determination to ensure action was taken and said work would continue with the community to explore the future of the site once it has been cleared.
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