Middlewich waste arrests put riverside site in focus

Two men have been arrested during an investigation into a large illegal waste site on farmland near Middlewich, where discarded material was found beside the River Wheelock.

The Environment Agency said the site on Coal Pit Lane contained significant quantities of green garden waste, construction debris, plastics, tyres, shredded material and mixed household waste. Its position on agricultural land next to the river places the investigation close to a local waterway and the surrounding rural environment.

A 69-year-old local man was arrested at the site on Friday, 7 August, on suspicion of waste offences. A second local man, aged 37, was arrested there during a planned follow-up operation on Monday, 10 August. Both have been released on bail while inquiries continue, and no finding of guilt has been made.

Mixed waste found beside the River Wheelock

Environment Agency officers contacted Cheshire Police for assistance on Friday morning before both organisations attended the farm as part of continuing enforcement activity. The agency described the inquiry as complex and linked it to suspected illegal activity at the site.

The range of material indicates that the investigation extends beyond a single load or one type of discarded waste. Officers reported biodegradable garden material alongside plastics, tyres, building waste and mixed household rubbish. The source did not state the volume, weight or length of time that the waste had been accumulating.

Its location is a central concern for nearby residents and landowners. The deposits were made on agricultural land immediately next to the River Wheelock, bringing a substantial waste operation into a riverside setting. The Environment Agency has not reported any confirmed contamination of the river in its announcement, so the environmental consequences at this site remain part of the unresolved investigation.

Caroline Berry, the Environment Agency’s area environment manager, said waste crime damages both communities and the environment. She said the arrests demonstrated that ownership of land does not place suspected illegal waste activity beyond enforcement action.

Both suspects remain on bail

The arrests form part of an active investigation rather than its conclusion. Releasing the two men on bail allows the authorities to continue their inquiries; the agency has not announced charges, a court date or a timetable for completing the case.

Sergeant Robert Simpson of the Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team said waste crime can blight the landscape and cause lasting environmental damage. He added that police would continue working with partner organisations and asked anyone with information about the Middlewich site to come forward.

The enforcement activity follows the Environment Agency’s publication of a 10 Point Plan for tackling waste crime in March. The plan commits the agency to faster and more targeted intervention, stronger prevention and detection, and more consistent enforcement. The Middlewich operation is being presented by the agency as part of that wider approach.

Residents urged to check waste carriers

The case also carries a practical warning for households and businesses paying someone to remove rubbish. Cheshire Police advised customers to check that a company is legitimately licensed, rather than relying on a verbal claim or accepting an unusually cheap disposal offer.

Waste traced back to a customer can lead to a substantial fine even when that person did not carry out the dumping. Residents can check the public register of waste carriers before handing over rubbish or making payment. Anyone absent from that register is operating illegally, according to the Environment Agency.

Landowners are also being advised to inspect empty land and buildings regularly and keep them secure, because they may face liability when waste is dumped on their property. Suspected illegal dumping, waste burning, suspicious movements, unlicensed operators or unusually cheap disposal offers can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or to the Environment Agency incident line on 0800 807060.

Published by GlobeBids News Desk on 11 August 2026, based on an Environment Agency press release issued the same day. The next confirmed stage is the continuing joint investigation by the Environment Agency and Cheshire Police.

Source: Environment Agency News