Councillor Tim Pickstone

Contact Tim

Information on Hespin Wood Tip

Please see below a letter which has been sent to residents who live near to the Hespin Wood tip, which might be of wider interest to residents:

Dear neighbour,

Hespin Wood Landfill

Thank you to all residents who have been in touch to raise concerns about the landfill site at Hespin Wood. I am also grateful to those who have contacted the Council and the Environment Agency directly to highlight how serious the situation has become.

Background

The landfill site at Hespin Wood has been owned and operated since summer 2025 by a private company, Seletia. It will be clear to nearby residents that Seletia has significantly intensified operations at the site. I know this has had a considerable impact on the local area, not only because of the scale of the landfill itself, but also as a result of odour, dust, litter, and increased lorry movements.

Who is responsible for what

The landfill site is not owned by the Council. Regulation is shared between the national Environment Agency (EA) and the Council, with each body having distinct responsibilities. Where there is some overlap, one organisation leads in the first instance. In summary:

The Environment Agency is leading on matters relating to: Waste Volumes and Types imported into the site; Landfill Engineering/Containment; & Emissions and Pests (odour, dust, litter management on-site, vermin).

The Council is leading on matters relating to: Operational Hours; Noise; Impacts upon the Highway Network; and Off-site litter issues. Landscape and Visual Impact is also relevant to the Council’s planning function.

What is being done

The Environment Agency is the primary regulator of landfill sites, but the Council also has important regulatory and enforcement powers in relation to how the site operates.

As your local councillor, I have met with Council officers four times in recent weeks to press for appropriate action. I am also grateful to Rockcliffe and Westlinton Parish Councils, who have been very active in raising residents’ concerns.

Both the Council and the Environment Agency have carried out a series of inspection visits to the site. As a result:

  • Seletia has been given clear instructions to change aspects of its operations to ensure compliance with planning permission requirements and Environment Agency permits, including landfill heights and waste management to reduce odour.
  • Deadlines were set for compliance, and the operator was advised what enforcement action could follow if these were not met.
  • The site stopped receiving non‑inert landfill waste as of last week (30 April 2026).
  • The operator is preparing a different section of the site to receive further waste and is undertaking works intended to significantly reduce odour. Where waste has been piled above currently permitted levels, this may need to be moved or reduced, unless the operator submits and secures approval for a planning application to vary the approved height limits.
  • The Council, working alongside partner organisations, is addressing litter on roads around Hespin Wood, with the option of enforcement action if necessary.
  • The Council’s Highways Team is aware of concerns about inappropriate lorry routes, particularly vehicles travelling through Rockcliffe and Cargo.
  • I am also working with my councillor colleague at Westmorland and Furness Council, who represents residents near Seletia’s other landfill site at Flusco, near Penrith.

The Environment Agency has established a dedicated Hespin Wood microsite which sets out its responsibilities, current actions, and reporting arrangements:
https://tinyurl.com/EAHespinWood

How residents can report concerns

It is important that issues are reported to the organisation responsible so that action can be taken as quickly as possible:

I know there is still much to be done, but I wanted to provide you with a clear update on the current position and how concerns are being addressed.

Please continue to keep both myself and the relevant regulatory bodies informed of any ongoing problems at the site.

Best wishes,

Tim

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