Illegal waste dumping under M53 investigated in Wirral

The Environment Agency has announced it will take action after multiple lorry loads of waste were dumped under the M53 motorway. The incident happened on March 6, when a man named Alan Howgate saw a lorry unloading rubbish near the railway tracks. He was walking his dog at the time and quickly took photos of the dumping. Mr. Howgate reported the incident to the police and Wirral Council. The area is near the Bidston Moss nature reserve and Junction One retail park. His photos show at least five truckloads of processed waste abandoned at the site. The Environment Agency is now investigating the situation. A spokesperson confirmed they are taking reports of waste dumping seriously and will act against anyone found guilty of illegal disposal. They thanked Mr. Howgate for reporting this incident and encouraged others to call their incident line to report similar crimes. Fly-tipping has been a significant problem in Wirral. From April 2023 to March 2024, there were 3,657 fly-tipping incidents reported, including many on highways and in back alleys. Investigations rose sharply, leading to a few warning letters and fines compared to the previous year. This area has a history of similar issues. In September 2021, about nine truckloads of rubbish were dumped in the same spot, resulting in enforcement actions against the offenders. The situation has drawn attention to the ongoing problem of fly-tipping in the region.