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Business park plagued by tyre dumpers

1/ 7/2008

FLY-TIPPERS have dumped hundreds of tyres near an Altham business park.

And the manager of one company is fearful they could lead to a major fire over the summer.

Andrew Knowles, manager of Rigby’s Executive Coaches on the Moorfield Industrial Estate, fears the pile of tyres may become a hot-spot for arsonists to wreck havoc.

He said: ”The main issue for some of us is a risk of fire damage to our premises.

“If someone were to set the tyres on fire, it could be a major, major problem here.

“The fumes could be hazardous and it would be a disaster if the fire spread to our coaches or elsewhere.”

The tyres have been left on land between Moorfield Drive and Moorfield Lane.

Environmental health officers from Hyndburn Council visited the site last Friday.

A spokesman for the council said investigations into who is responsible are continuing.

Businesses caught illegally dumping tyres face up to £50,000 in fines and a prison sentence of up to five years if convicted.

Mr Knowles said he and other business managers have seen hundreds of commercial and regular tyres being off-loaded on the site and believe they know who is responsible for the mess.

He added: “The problem has been there on and off for several months. It’s getting like a tyre dumping ground here.

“Something needs to be done and soon before something even worse happens.”

Many of the businesses which have premises on the site have joined a 24-hour surveillance scheme to monitor the area.