It was a team effort, say tip campaigners

A campaigning couple, who took a community’s fight for justice to Parliament, have been nominated for a coveted Pride in Oldham award.

Diane Bolan and her builder husband David have been put forward in the award’s achievement category for their valiant battle to improve conditions for residents, businesses and other communities affected by odours from High Moor tip at Scouthead.

Mrs Bolan, a mother-of-two, launched a dedicated ‘Stop the Stench’ website to highlight the dilemma of residents affected by smells emitting from the controversial site.

And, backed by other careworn locals, she and her husband contacted Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, who was then Minister for Environment.

In meetings with the MP, the couple outlined problems caused by the smells and vibrations to homes from a gas extraction unit at the sprawling site which backs on to their 13-acre homestead.

The Bolans showed the MP their personal diary chronicling details of smell-related incidents and other issues at the site which were also impacting on the wider community.

And, backed by local councillors, Mr Woolas held a series of high-level meetings with senior Environment Agency officials.

Since then, tip operators have introduced a series of new innovations at High Moor including the appointment of a local “sleeping policeman” who makes regular reports to the community on site updates.

And a specially-dedicated hotline number with detailed information on a new High Moor website also keeps residents informed of latest developments and logs any incidents.

Mrs Bolan said: “We are delighted and honoured to be nominated for the award — but it really was a great team effort.

“Dave and I could not have carried out campaign to see improvements without the unflinching support of the local community, our councillors and the MP.

“We now have an excellent working relationship with all Government and other agencies involved in High Moor and are looking forward to the tip finally closing for good in a few years time.”

Dave said: “Although we got disheartened sometimes, the support from everyone gave us the determination to continue with our campaign and get some tangible answers to problems here.

“It’s humbling to be nominated for this Pride award. We feel very honoured.”

Mr Woolas said: “I am pleased to offer Diane and David Bolan my support to this nomination.

“Without their diligence and determination, I am convinced living conditions of people most affected by High Moor would have continued to get worse.

“Their campaign has resulted in operators investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in schemes to dampen the obnoxious odours.

“There is now regular site monitoring by a representative of local residents and the tip will close in a few years time.

“It is the Bolans’ persistence that has been instrumental in bringing about these changes that are great benefit to hundreds of residents affected by the awful smells.”