Residents in Great Lever are seeing a cleaner, greener neighbourhood, with fly-tipping on the decline thanks to a proactive environmental enforcement project.
Work led by the council’s environmental enforcement team has delivered clear improvements across the ward, with targeted action at known hotspots helping to reduce incidents and improve the appearance of local streets and open spaces.
Between April and June this year, investigations into fly-tipping offences have resulted in Fixed Penalty Notices and warning letters being issued, helping to deter offenders and reinforce the message that environmental crime will not be tolerated.
A combination of enforcement, partnership working and community engagement has been central to the project’s success. Officers have worked closely with housing standards, neighbourhood services and residents to ensure issues are dealt with quickly and do not escalate.
Problem areas across the ward have seen significant improvements. Untidy land has been cleared and brought back into use, including sites at Asia Mill, Forrester Hill and along Manchester Road, where landowners have taken action following interventions.
New measures have also helped tackle persistent fly-tipping hotspots. CCTV has been introduced in key locations, leading to fines being issued, while regular patrols and rapid response clean-ups have ensured waste is removed quickly before further dumping can occur.
Community involvement has played a vital role. Residents have worked alongside officers through clean-up events, reporting issues and helping to maintain improvements. At Croft Lane, engagement with residents and volunteers has helped bring fly-tipping to a halt and encouraged better waste practices.
In addition, action has been taken to address wider environmental concerns, including abandoned bins, flyposting and overgrown land, helping to create a more attractive and safer environment for the community.
Cllr Robert Morrisey, Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services said:
“Great Lever is a fantastic example of how targeted enforcement, strong partnerships and community support can make a real difference.
“We’ve seen a clear reduction in fly-tipping in key areas, alongside significant improvements to local sites that were previously neglected.
“We will continue to work with residents and partners to build on these successes and keep the ward clean and welcoming for everyone.”
The council is encouraging residents to continue reporting fly-tipping and supporting clean-up efforts, as work continues to maintain and build on the improvements already achieved.