Police move in to close down illegal scrapyard

A LARGE-SCALE police operation took place on Monday to shut down an illegal scrapyard site after a closure order was imposed.

- BY BILL JACOBS Local Democracy Reporting Service

Judge Guy Mathieson granted a full closure order, shutting down the site in Meadow Street, Great Harwood, for three months and forcing its residents off the land.

He rejected an appeal against the order by Mary Smith who owns the yard with her husband Tommy who is currently in jail.

A ring of steel now surrounds the waste site after officials moved in to close down the site.

On Monday more than 100 officials from Lancashire Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue, the Environment Agency and RSPCA moved in to close down the site.

Following Judge Mathieson’s decision police moved in to secure the site which has been for many years subject to complaints of antisocial behaviour, fires and criminal activity.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We have served a closure order at an illegal waste site in Great Harwood.

“The order prevents anybody entering or remaining on land at The Oaks on Meadow Street for the next three months.”