Illegal dump becomes ‘symbol of north-south divide’ at heart of Makerfield byelection

A mountain of rubbish sits behind a metal fence in the village of Bickershaw, where it has remained for more than 20 months. For many residents, it is a physical manifestation of the north-south divide as well as a rotting, rat-infested symbol of a broken system in which organised criminal gangs make millions while communities endure the toxic impact of their trade. The 25,000 tonnes of household and trade rubbish is one of the largest toxic waste dumps in the country. …