Anger over dumped rubbish at former garage site

The former Yates Garage site on Merton Bank Road in Islands Brow has been used as a skip dump with large amounts of waste being left in the area.

Residents have expressed anger over the rubbish, which has been reported to the council and Environment Agency.

The rubbish at the site

The site was formerly Yates Garage. In September 2019 police had found a £10m cannabis farm at the location.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It’s absolutely disgusting, the smell is terrible and it’s overrun with rats. I’ve complained several times, it’s not got a permit."

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Blackbrook ward councillor Linda Maloney said: “We are absolutely appalled by the actions of the people on this site.

"They have no regard for their neighbours and are causing considerable upset for the people living on the Hinckley Road estate.

"We have raised this with the senior director at the council, Lisa Harris, and have been assured that they do not have planning permission for this type of use and that all unauthorised operations should be ceased, and the land brought back to its previous tidy state.

"The enforcement team are dealing with this matter as are Environmental Health.

"Our residents can rest assured that we will continue to raise this matter with them until it is sorted.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson added: “We are investigating reports of illegal waste activities at the former Yates Garage in St Helens, and are working closely with the landowner and St Helens Council on these investigations.

"For legal reasons we cannot comment further.”