Altham’s Whinney Hill tip ‘like horror film’ as birds swarm

Whinney Hill Recycling Centre in Hyndburn has been the subject of a number of complaints in recent months.

The Environment Agency said it is taking actions to address concerns at Whinney Hill Landfill Site.

Operator SUEZ Recycling and Recovery said it is "deploying every measure... to mitigate the number of seagulls in the area".

Pictures and videos have been posted of seagulls swarming around the town with residents comparing the scenes to “something from a horror movie”.

Seagulls swarming around Altham’s Whinney Hill tip (Image: Gary Hough)

Gary Hough, admin of Facebook campaign group Tipped Over The Edge, said seagulls have dropped chicken bones from the sky, complaining about his car being covered in bird faeces.

Gary says he has also had to buy a cover to go over the family’s washing outside as it is continually being covered in seagull poo.

He said: “I am the admin that set up the community campaign group, along with my partner.

“In just over three weeks it's grown from a couple of people to almost 400 and continuing.

“We have had chicken bones dropped as have others too. We have taken pictures of the mess on the cover we just bought to go over our washing last week, and one of the bones dropped by a seagull.”

Car covered in seagulls' faeces (Image: Gary Hough)

Earlier this month, the council announced the tip’s future is uncertain. It is one of four boroughs in the east of the county which will be seriously affected by the ending of the use of the Whinney Hill landfill site.

The authority is looking at options for the process.

The problem has arisen because of the contract between Conservative-run Lancashire County Council - which disposes of residual waste on behalf of its 12 district councils - and SUEZ Recycling and Recovery.

It is about the contract at the Whinney Hill site and if it is due to end in March 2025, or March 2026 if an extension can be negotiated.

Washing line covered in seagulls' faeces (Image: Gary Hough)

In the future, waste will be taken to another site near Leyland and each borough will need to have a waste transfer station.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency (EA) said: "We're taking action to ensure the operator addresses issues at Whinney Hill Landfill Site and recognise the distress that odour and gulls are causing members of the community. 

We'll continue to closely monitor the situation and intensify our regulatory activity as required.

Any incidents of pollution can be reported to us via our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.”

Richard Phillips, landfill operations manager at SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK said: “We apologise for the inconvenience caused by seagulls and would like to assure residents that we are actively working to deter them and minimise their impact on the local area.

"As a responsible operator of an essential service for the residents of Lancashire, we see ourselves very much as part of the local community and strive to be a good neighbour.

"Our site is regulated by the Environment Agency, and we have an active environmental management system in place to manage any pests, including seagulls.

"We are currently deploying every measure within our plan to mitigate the number of seagulls in the area, which has increased following the migration of birds inland following the COVID-19 pandemic, and are working with the Environment Agency as well as independent specialist contractors to explore what further steps we may be able to take to address local concerns.”  

The council has been approached for comment.