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The government has said it will directly fund the clear-up of 48,000 tonnes of waste at illegal tips in the north of England, following criticism of a north-south divide on tackling waste crime.
Sky News had highlighted how local people in Bickershaw, near Wigan – whose homes have been infested with rats because of the waste – said they felt abandoned by the Environment Agency.
That followed the government setting aside £9m for clearing up a similar-sized waste site in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
The decision to clear waste from sites in Wigan, Sheffield and Lancashire is part of a major raft of measures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency.
It describes the plans as its “toughest ever crackdown” on waste criminals.
“Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment and economy for too long. This action plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences,” said Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds.
The 10-point plan unveiled by the Environment Agency includes plans for faster intelligence handling, a more consistent and quicker response to dumping reports, and naming and shaming operators involved.
Sky News was given exclusive access to a new drone squad – part of the latest measures – which are equipped with lasers, thermal imaging and cameras to help gather evidence and spot illegal waste dumps.
James Burton, who is one of the 33 new pilots, said: “It can be used very effectively for evidence gathering, the photographs we can take from the sky.
“It paints the picture of the significant level of impact this has had on the countryside and it enables us to better sell the story to a jury and the judge.”
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