Environment Agency takes court action over illegal tipping

Illegally dumped waste at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site

The Environment Agency is taking court action regarding illegal fly-tipping at the site of the former Turner Brothers Asbestos factory, due to be heard at court in January 2020.

In July 2016, residents expressed outrage after discovering that the TBA site was being used as a dumping ground for industrial waste – without permission from the council.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/103956/outrage-as-former-asbestos-site-becomes-unauthorised-waste-dumping-ground

By law, the tipping of waste materials requires planning consent and an environment permit is required by the Environment Agency. Trucks were filmed arriving at the site on Rooley Moor Road, unloading mounds of waste and driving away empty almost daily.

The waste still remained on site eight months later, and a complaint was logged with the Environment Agency.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118130/illegal-tipping-investigation-at-former-turner-brothers-absestos-site-still-ongoing-after-nearly-two-years

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/109096/illegally-dumped-waste-at-former-turner-brothers-asbestos-site-eight-months-ago-still-hasn%E2%80%99t-been-removed

Now, three years later, the Environment Agency has confirmed the case has been taken to court.

A representative of the Environment Agency said: “We attended Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in July when the prosecution of illegal waste activities at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos site was adjourned until January.

“We will not have any further information until the case has been heard.”