New figures show scale of the landfill breaches which have blighted Fleetwood for too long

This week's newsletter is sick of this s***

Hello and welcome to The Blackpool Lead.

When we first wrote about the issues at Jameson Road landfill in early 2025, we didn’t think we’d still be here a year later learning about new levels of failure at the site.

And yet here we are - and residents are still exasperated, frustrated and suffering from the effects of the Fleetwood landfill.

Today we report on a Freedom of Information request - obtained by campaigning mother Jess Brown - and what it tells us about the level of failure at the site.

We also report on a formal complaint made to Lancashire County Council, and now the LGO, about their lack of action in relation to the health of residents.

This landfill looks like it is going nowhere before its lease runs out at the end of 2027 - but these figures coupled with the issues still happening in 2026 should be enough to have those with the authority to make decision think twice.

Blackpool briefing

🏗️ A new multi-million pound data centre to be sited on the edge of Blackpool is set to bring a major jobs boost to the Fylde coast. Singapore-based real estate firm Elite UK REIT is to open the data centre at the Peel Park business site on Brunel Way. The team behind the scheme say it will bring not only hundreds of jobs during the construction phase, but permanent roles once it is up and running. Elite UK REIT secured planning permission for the new development from planners at Fylde Council earlier this month. Peel Park business estate falls under Fylde Council because it is geographically located within the borough of Fylde, specifically within the Whitehills area, despite its proximity to the Blackpool boundary and its “Blackpool” branding The planning application was submitted as part of Blackpool’s Growth and Prosperity programme, which includes development projects in the 144-ha Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone as well as the Talbot Gateway Central Business District. It is estimated the project will provide 600-800 jobs during construction, and then 50-80 when operational.

📚 A new school for children with special educational needs is to open in Blackpool after planners gave the project the go ahead. The school will be based at premises in Willow House on Clifton Avenue, Marton, a building which has already been used for education purposes. It will teach pupils with a range of complex needs, who have struggled in previous education placements. The new establishment will be run by Hexagon Care Services Ltd, based in Ashton-on-Ribble in Preston, a leading UK-based provider operating over 70 residential children’s homes, schools, and therapeutic services for young people with complex social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties (SEBD).

🩺 The remaining part of Blackpool Victoria Hospital’s former psychiatric unit is to be demolished. Parkwood was once a substantial mental health unit but was fully closed for patient use over a decade ago and was replaced by the new Harbour facility on Preston New Road in March 2015. The first phase of demolition of the derelict building, on Whinney Heys Road, began in 2020. A second application, lodged with Blackpool Council for the demolition of the remaining central block, has now been given planning approval.

New figures show scale of the landfill breaches which have blighted Fleetwood for too long

A Transwaste HGV in Fleetwood

By Luke Beardsworth

A total of 70 breaches were recorded at the controversial Jameson Road landfill by the end of last summer, according to figures provided by the Environment Agency.

The Jameson Road landfill is operated by Transwaste and reopened in 2023. Since then, it has been subject to thousands of complaints and multiple suspension notices.

But despite persistent efforts from campaigners, along with Lorraine Beavers who is Labour’s MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, the site is expected to continue to operate until its lease with Wyre Council ends on December 31, 2027.

The new data, obtained by campaigner Jess Brown under Freedom of Information laws, shows a total of 70 breaches were recorded by the Environment Agency at the site between February 2024 and August 2025. There were only two months with no breaches.

Those breaches included failures of the engineering at the site designed to prevent emissions, odours emitting from the site, the monitoring and the monitoring and recording of emissions.

There are multiple examples of the operators failing to manage the gases coming from the landfill and of leachate being found outside of the containment area.

Leachate is used to describe highly-contaminated liquid formed when water, usually rain, passes through solid waste in landfills. It can pose severe environmental risks, which is a particular concern given the site is located close to the River Wyre and Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve.

All of which pours cold water on the assessment from the UKHSA that the site should pose no risk as long as it is managed correctly.

Issues with emissions are particularly concerning in an area like Fleetwood which is confirmed to have a higher prevalence of respiratory issues such as COPD and asthma than the UK average and are therefore more susceptible to the effects of poor air quality.

Jess told The Blackpool Lead: “I’m not surprised to hear there have been 70 permit breaches. It simply confirms what many of us already knew. How incompetent Transwaste are.