Buckshaw Village fire: Chorley councillor demands answers following huge landfill blaze

A Chorley councillor has said he will be demanding answers into the cause of a landfill site blaze.
By Emma Downey
Published 14th Jul 2022, 12:30 BST
Updated 14th Jul 2022, 14:43 BST
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Chair of the Clayton Hall Landfill Committee Councillor Mark Clifford who is also a member responsible for Environment and Green Space said angry residents needed answers.

The fire started at Quercia Limited's site off Dawson Lane, near Buckshaw Village, at around 12.15am on Wednesday (July 13).

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Firefighters worked throughout the night battling a large "deep-seated" blaze at a landfill site in Buckshaw Village.

Nearby residents were urged to keep doors and windows closed due to the large amount of smoke (Credit: LFRS)Nearby residents were urged to keep doors and windows closed due to the large amount of smoke (Credit: LFRS)
Nearby residents were urged to keep doors and windows closed due to the large amount of smoke (Credit: LFRS)

By 1pm that day, 15 fire engines were battling the flames, with crews expected to remain at the scene for the rest of the day.

Incident commander Mal Dewhurst said: “We estimate approximately 6,000 sq m of surface area of the landfill is affected by the fire.

What is Coun Clifford saying about the Buckshaw Village fire?

Councillor Clifford said: "I am deeply shocked at the scale and serious nature of the fire at the Clayton Hall Landfill Site.

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Councillor Mark Clifford said serious questions needed answering in the coming days following the blazeCouncillor Mark Clifford said serious questions needed answering in the coming days following the blaze
Councillor Mark Clifford said serious questions needed answering in the coming days following the blaze

"Over the coming days there are serious questions that need answering by Quercia as to how this fire occurred and how it spread so rapidly.

"My residents are rightly angered that they are once again suffering from living near this landfill.

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"This is the third major incident in the past five years after the stink issues of 2017/18, the fire caused by arsonists in April 2021 and now this one."

Fire crews are still on the scene tackling the fireFire crews are still on the scene tackling the fire
Fire crews are still on the scene tackling the fire

He added that once this latest incident is over he would be calling an urgent meeting with Quercia and the committee members to discuss what has happened, how much damage has occurred and what the future holds for the troubled site.

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"I would like to thank Lancashire Fire and Rescue for their excellent work in tackling this challenging landfill fire and to all partner agencies who are working with them."

What will happen next?

Buckshaw Village residents have also came together to gather refreshments and food for the fire crews via the Buckshaw Beat Facebook group.

Incident Commander Matt Hamer said the plan over the next few hours would be to work with site owners so they could gain access to extinguish the fire fully.

Residents are still advised to keep windows and doors closed. Road closures are still in place. The company have been approached for comment.

Related topics:Mark CliffordBuckshaw VillageChorley