A massive pile of illegally dumped waste, weighing 25,000 tonnes, has been discovered on property partly owned by a member of the royal family. The site, located in northern England near a primary school, is described as the most hazardous illegal waste dump in the UK. Images reveal the area strewn with black bin bags containing household waste like nappies, along with dangerous chemicals and plastics. Local residents in the vicinity of Bolton House Road, Bickershaw, reported a continuous stream of trucks depositing rubbish at the location starting from January 2025.
Approximately one-third of the dump is situated on land belonging to the Duchy of Lancaster, which is within King Charles’s extensive private property and estate holdings. Due to an ancient feudal legal system dating back 750 years, the Duchy is not obligated to clean up the 20-meter high waste mound and asserts that the responsibility falls on Wigan Council.
Transferring the contaminated land to the council would result in a multi-million-pound cleanup expense for taxpayers. While the Duchy claims exemption from property liabilities under the “escheat” law, they have expressed willingness to engage with Wigan Council on the matter. This stance seemingly contradicts the Environment Agency’s directive that landowners are responsible for removing illegal waste from their properties.
Residents living near the dump site have shared harrowing experiences, citing the presence of rats, flies, and overwhelming waste accumulation. Authorities initially showed reluctance to intervene, but subsequent actions by Wigan Council, including securing closure orders following a significant fire incident in July, have addressed the situation.
Investigations into the site’s ownership structure have revealed a complex arrangement, leading to part of the property falling under the King’s ownership through the Duchy of Lancaster. The Duchy operates under the principle of collecting assets from deceased individuals without heirs and dissolved companies within the historic County Palatine of Lancaster, with proceeds benefiting the Duchy directly.
The Environment Agency is actively investigating the site and pursuing legal action against those responsible. Although the Duchy has offered to transfer the land to Wigan Council, the council is cautious, considering the cleanup costs may outweigh the land’s value. The situation underscores the challenges posed by the intricate legal frameworks governing land ownership and waste management.
