In the heart of Bickershaw, a village nestled in the North of England, an illegal dump has become more than just an eyesore; it's a symbol of the stark north-south divide in the country's environmental and political landscape. This mountain of rubbish, towering over a residential street and adjacent to a primary school, is a stark reminder of the broken system that allows organized criminal gangs to make millions while communities suffer the toxic consequences. This is not just a local issue; it's a microcosm of a larger struggle, one that has captured the attention of the upcoming Makerfield byelection.
The dump, a 25,000-tonne mountain of household and trade rubbish, has been a festering wound for over 20 months. It's an environmental and public health hazard, having caught fire for nine days last summer, forcing the school to shut down and trapping residents in their homes to escape the noxious fumes. This incident, however, is not an isolated case. The swift response to a similar dump in Oxfordshire, where the Environment Agency (EA) announced a multi-million-pound cleanup within weeks of parliamentary interventions, stands in stark contrast to the slow response in Bickershaw. This disparity has fueled the narrative of the north-south divide, with residents questioning why their issues are being ignored while those in the south receive immediate attention.
The outgoing Labour MP for Makerfield, Josh Simons, had actively campaigned to get the dump cleared by the EA. His efforts, unfortunately, fell short, and the dump remains. This has not gone unnoticed by the Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, who hopes to retain the seat for Labour in the upcoming byelection. Burnham, a vocal advocate for the north, has highlighted the dump in his election leaflets and worked with Simons to push for its removal. However, the lack of progress has not gone unnoticed by the public, who are now looking to Burnham as their best hope for change.
The Reform party, on the other hand, has seized on the issue, calling it an example of Britain's decline under successive Conservative and Labour governments. Their deputy leader, Richard Tice, has announced a 'national action day' on July 4th to clean up litter and tackle waste crime. However, signs of support for Reform in Bickershaw were not obvious, with most residents pinning their hopes on Burnham.
The dump's impact on the community is profound. Residents like Nicha Rowson and Marilyn Naylor have endured the foul smell, rats in their homes, and even health issues for their children. The dump's encroachment on the school fields has further exacerbated the problem, with children unable to play outside due to the smell. The economic impact is also significant, with property prices affected and the local economy suffering.
The dump's existence is a result of a broken system that allows criminal gangs to divert rubbish to illegal sites, pocketing the landfill tax while evading taxes and causing economic losses. The cost to the economy is estimated at around £1 billion annually in cleanup costs, lost legitimate business revenue, and evaded taxes. This is a systemic issue that requires more than just local action; it demands a national conversation about environmental justice and the north-south divide.
In my opinion, the Bickershaw dump is more than just an environmental issue; it's a reflection of the broader societal and political divisions in the country. It's a call to action for all parties involved, from local politicians to national authorities, to address the north-south divide and the systemic issues that allow such problems to persist. The cleanup of the dump is a necessary step, but it's just the beginning of a much-needed conversation and action to address the underlying issues.
