‘Fake companies’ run by organised criminals dump 100 tonnes of household rubbish in derelict quarry near Chesterfield, planned for housing development
A parish council has warned of ‘fake companies’ set up by organised criminals – after 100 tonnes of household rubbish was dumped in a derelict quarry.
Wingerworth Parish Council has issued an update after illegal dumping took place at Bole Hill Quarry.
Residents living close to the quarry alerted the parish council clerk and chair to suspicious activity and officers from the Environment Agency found a mountain of waste had been deposited or buried on the site.
The agency is now carrying out a criminal investigation, working to track down hauliers involved in vehicle movements.
The site owner acted quickly to block the entrance to the quarry with 100 tonnes of stone blocks and has apologised for the inconvenience and upset caused to those living close by.
A message from the parish council reads: “The site owners told the clerk that the illegal dumping was carried out by organised criminals who set up fake companies, take payment in return for waste disposal services and then the waste is dumped in disused quarries and the open countryside.
"In this particular incident, the perpetrators installed Heras Fencing days before the incident to give the impression that the site owner was active on and securing the site. This meant that no suspicions were raised when the illegal dumping took place.”
The site owner confirmed they have no intention of carrying out any works themselves at Bole Hill Quarry and if any activity is spotted, it is unauthorised and illegal and should be reported to the EA or the police immediately.
Should the site owner decide to take action at the the quarry, the parish council and residents will be informed in advance.
The owner also stated they had only one plan for the site, and that was to sell it.
Stancliffe Homes is no longer looking to buy and develop Bole Hill Quarry but the owner intends to sell the site as soon as it can for either housing development or commercial use.
Ben Hocking, Environment Agency Area Environment manager said: “Our action at the site has disrupted further illegal waste activity.
“This situation really shines a light on the vital role the public plays in stopping waste criminals in their tracks.
“Communities are our partners in this - they act as our eyes and ears and reporting information to us as soon as possible means we can take swift action to intervene.
“Waste crime blights communities and we’re taking faster action to disrupt and prevent activity before it’s established.”