The illegal dump in Bickershaw, a village in the north of England, has become a symbol of the north-south divide, highlighting the stark contrast in how authorities respond to such issues in different regions. This dump, consisting of 25,000 tonnes of household and trade rubbish, has been a festering eyesore and a public health hazard for over 20 months, right next to a primary school and a residential street.
The dump's existence is a testament to the broken system that allows organized criminal gangs to make millions by diverting waste to illegal sites and pocketing landfill tax, while communities suffer the toxic consequences. The smell from the dump has been so bad that it has affected the health of residents, with rats infesting homes and cars. It has also impacted the local economy, with property prices affected and legitimate businesses losing revenue.
The contrast between the swift response to a similar dump in Oxfordshire and the slow response in Bickershaw is stark. The Oxfordshire dump, discovered last year, was cleared within weeks after parliamentary interventions, at a cost of millions to the taxpayer. In Bickershaw, despite the outgoing Labour MP Josh Simons' efforts, the dump remains, with no sign of removal. This has led to a sense of abandonment and frustration among residents.
The Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, who hopes to retain the seat for Labour in the byelection, has been keenly aware of the impact of the illegal dump. He has mentioned it in election leaflets and worked with Simons to try to force the authorities to remove it. However, signs of support for Reform, which has capitalized on the dump as an example of Britain's decline, were not obvious in Bickershaw.
Despite this, most local people appear to see Burnham as their best hope of getting the illegal dump cleared. Residents like Nicha Rowson and Marilyn Naylor have pinned their hopes on Burnham, believing that he will change the north-south divide and address the issue. Colin Peters, for instance, plans to vote for Burnham because he believes that the mayor, being from the area, will prioritize the north-west of the UK and take action.
The duchy of Lancaster and the Environment Agency (EA) have committed to working with Wigan council to address the issue and counter the impact of illegal waste tipping. However, the EA acknowledges that important steps must be taken before the clearance operation can begin. The dump's continued existence highlights the need for urgent action and a more equitable response to similar issues across the country.
