Hunt for 'rogue' tippers who dumped tonnes at country park

Council enforcement officers are searching for those responsible for the huge pile of refuse which was found by residents at Moses Gate Country Park this morning.

The discarded objects included tree stumps, broken wooden boards, cardboard boxes and what looked to be children’s toys.

Following the discovery, a gate blocking the entrance to the site was found to have been broken and a boulder used to block the path had been removed.

Little Lever councillors Sean Hornby and Rees Gibbon reported the dump to Bolton Council after complaints from residents.

“These people have come in and driven to an area where they can’t be seen from the road,” Cllr Hornby said.

“The people who do this are costing a fortune to the people of Bolton.

“When we have to clear up things like that we’re using money that could be used on so many other things.

“It’s money that we don’t to spend.”

Cllr Hornby believes the most likely explanation for the dump is that a rogue collector has been paid to remove the rubbish and then tipped it at the park.

However, the council has moved to emphasise that in cases like this the people whose home or business produced the refuse will be prosecuted as well as the tippers.

A spokesman for the authority said: “Flytipping is a reckless crime that blights our public spaces and damages the environment.

“This council has a zero-tolerance approach to flytipping and we are committed to holding those responsible to account.

“If anyone offers to take rubbish away for you, it is vital to first check they are a licensed waste carrier and to make sure they provide you with a valid transfer note.”

Homeowners are advised that anyone offering to take rubbish away must have a valid waste carriers licence and must provide a transfer note upon taking the items.