Wigan family's home a 'prison' due to waste dump.

A Wigan family describes their home as a 'prison' after 25,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste caught fire for nine days last year. The lingering smell has forced Nicha Rowson's eight-year-old son, Oliver, who has autism, to relocate to his grandmother's house because it makes him physically ill.

The ordeal has caused significant distress, impacting the family's mental health and creating a sense of separation. Adding to their plight, the property experienced a severe rat infestation, leading to the family dismantling their ceiling to address the issue. Residents like Nicha feel ignored by the Environment Agency and local council.

A similar waste site in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, received £9.6 million for cleanup, sparking accusations of a class-based disparity in environmental response. Baroness Sheehan highlighted that the rotting, hazardous waste in Bickershaw warrants high priority for resident and child safety.

While the Environment Agency cited escalating fire risks and potential impact on a major highway for the Oxfordshire cleanup, they state they are pursuing perpetrators for the Wigan site's costs. Wigan Council is undertaking partial cleanup of a nature reserve section it owns and has written to the Environment Agency to understand the funding disparity, calling on the government for similar financial aid for the Bickershaw site.