RESIDENTS living close to a closed-down recycling plant have been assured that efforts are being made to clear the site.

Chadwicks and Sons Ltd, in Oakenbottom Road, Breightmet, went into liquidation following enforcement action by the Environment Agency which meant the firm could not bring any more waste onto the site.

It is thought that around eight tonnes of waste remains on the premises — which has caused concern to people living nearby.

Now, it has been revealed that Bolton Council is taking legal advice on how to gain access to the site and is looking at ways to clear up the leftover waste.

In a joint statement, Labour’s Tonge with the Haulgh Cllr Martin Donaghy and Debbie Newall, the party’s candidate for Breightmet in tomorrow’s election, said: “We feel that the enforcement action was absolutely necessary as there was real concern about the deteriorating condition of the site, causing odour problems in the area.

“Whilst the loss of jobs is always regrettable, we have consistently argued that the Oakenbottom Road site was totally unsuitable for this type of recycling operation, as it is so close to houses — our priority, as a council, is to try to get this site cleared up.

“We can now confirm that the council is taking legal advice on the right to access the site, and is liaising with the Environment Agency on the options available to get the site cleared up.

“There is an estimated eight tonnes of waste there, and until the council is able to inspect the site and speak to specialist contractors — we do not know exactly what is there, the scale of the job to be undertaken, or the timescales involved.”

The statement continues: “We hope to have some good news for the nearby residents in both Breightmet and Tonge Fold in the near future.

“People have suffered enough with this facility, and we are determined to firstly get the site cleared up, and secondly, to find a lasting solution for local people.”