Skipton Watchlist site 137
The site
The site is located in a rural setting less than 2 km from an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in Skipton, Yorkshire. Enforcement officers from the Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Area Enforcement team established significant quantities of waste had been unlawfully deposited during March and April 2025 without an environmental permit or exemption.
The operator was instructed to stop importing waste and remove deposited material. Despite formal notices requiring compliance, the operator continued accepting and depositing waste.
The problem
Being in close proximity to an AONB, a key problem is the visual impact created by the waste at watchlist site 137. There is also a risk of leachate from the waste entering and polluting watercourses or groundwater.
The action we’ve taken
The Environment Agency carried out an investigation into the incident, secured a restriction order to prevent further offending and achieved a conviction.
Following a successful prosecution, we secured a Regulation 44 order requiring waste to be removed from the site and the site to be restored.
We remain committed to ensuring that the waste is removed and that the environmental risks are addressed.
Our enforcement officers continue to monitor progress against the order and regularly assess compliance with its requirements. We will, if necessary and appropriate, take further enforcement action.
We have received queries from residents and interest from the local MP for Skipton and Ripon. We always endeavour to keep interested parties informed of any progress in our activities.