Concern as life of Isle of Man rubbish tip is extended

Wright's Pit North is a landfill site in the north of the Isle of Man

Concerns about the Manx government's continued use of a rubbish tip to dump waste without proper permissions have been raised by a Tynwald committee.

Ministers last month approved extending the use of Wright's Pit North in Bride to 2030 following a planning report.

Environment and Infrastructure Policy Review Committee member David Ashford said the tip had been "operating illegally" since 2020.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall said the search was on for a new site.

Permission for disposal of construction and demolition waste at Wright's Pit North expired at the end of 2019, until the Department of Infrastructure's (DOI) bid to extend its life was approved by the Council of Ministers in October on the recommendation of a planning inspector's independent report.

The report concluded the facility had to stay open as there was no replacement landfill available, and there would not be any "unacceptable" environmental impact provided a set of conditions were met.

'Not acceptable'

The plan to continue using the island's only operational landfill site has previously been criticised over ecological concerns and a lack of progress finding a replacement.

The committee heard from DOI officials that plans for a new landfill had not been submitted, contrary to what the independent planning inspector had been advised.

Committee chairman Rob Mercer MLC said there was "great concern" the inspector had been "misled in someway", and called on the department to clarify the position.

Highways director Jeffrey Robinson said the plans were "well advanced" for a replacement to Wright's Pit North, but said he would not reveal where as "waste is always contentious".

Mr Crookall told the committee the situation "was not acceptable", and said his department was now trying to "work legally and with the right permissions".

Mr Ashford said: "If this was anyone else they would not just have had the book thrown at them, they would have the full library."

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