Anger at rubbish-filled wagon left deserted for months

A huge HGV wagon filled with rubbish left in a layby for four months is "a complete eyesore as well as extremely dangerous", residents have said.

Mark Hothersall, from Mellor Brook in Lancashire, said the dumped trailer on the A59 close to BAE Systems in Samlesbury is a hazard that prevents people from walking safely on the footpath.

The wagon appears to be so full of debris - including carpet, wood, bottles and cans - it is bulging to one side and is spilling on to the closed footpath.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said the site has been made safe while they look to clear it.

Mark said: "We've seen pedestrians in the road including a family with a pram who were in a live lane.

"People do remove the barriers and walk past the vehicle, which is extremely dangerous because it's not stable."

The 59-year-old said he reported the issue to Ribble Valley Borough Council but was passed on to Lancashire County Council, who then passed it to a parking authority.

"I can get a slight smell of odour from this vehicle, and I can see some sort of oil potentially leaking from under a wheel, so it's detrimental to wildlife and what will go into the sewage system," Mark said.

He said he no longer walks along the A59, which has a 50mph (80kph) speed limit, because of the potential danger.

"These scumbags that have left this, hopefully somebody can identify them and get them in front of the courts," he continued.

"They've caused the problem, not the council, but the council's lack of ability or willingness to help in the first place is poor."

The council spokesman said: "We are aware of the abandoned trailer in the layby on the A59 at Samlesbury.

"The site has been made safe and we are continuing to work with Ribble Valley Borough Council and other partners to secure a resolution."

Ribble Valley Borough Council said it was "working to find a solution" to a "very difficult situation".

A spokesman said: "We clean up fly-tipping across our borough on a daily basis but not on this scale.

"The state of the vehicle means it can't simply be driven off. The waste will have to be removed before the empty vehicle can be taken away and this could take several days and require at least the partial closure of a busy trunk road."

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