A FIRM which caused a ‘plague of flies’ in Oswaldtwistle has admitted illegally disposing of controlled waste.

The Wigan-based firm Blakeley’s Waste Management and its former director Stephen Blakeley have pleaded guilty to illegal tipping at the former Nipa site which is in Nook Lane.

The prosecution was brought by the Environment Agency after a fly infestation which had affected hundreds of residents in the area and nearby towns.

Appearing at Burnley Crown Court yesterday, Stephen Blakeley, who was managing director of the firm at the time, pleaded guilty to the charges of depositing controlled waste at Nook Lane without a permit.

Representatives for Blakeley’s Waste Management appearing in court also pleaded guilty to the two counts of charges of disposing of the controlled waste without proper permissions.

The firm had also admitted allowing the illegal disposal of waste between June and July 2012 when an environmental permit was not in place.

  • Arthur Morgan, the site’s landowner, has pleaded not guilty to charges of permitting waste to be dumped. Arthur Morgan was released on bail by the court until a trial date is set, which is expected to be next summer.