THE Environment Agency is currently investigating whether any environmental laws were broken by the fire at Averies in the summer.

The fire burned for eight weeks, sending smoke billowing across nearby businesses and homes, costing an estimated £500,000 to clear up.

The agency is looking at whether any environmental rules were broken. If they were it may lead to a criminal prosecution.

While the investigation is under way, the agency will not confirm its exact parameters.

However, it is not looking into the cause of the fire, as that is the responsibility of the fire service.

An agency spokesman said: “Our investigation continues and it is being given a high priority, as the circumstances demand.

“In the meantime we unfortunately cannot comment further lest we prejudice the investigation.”

Averies, in Marshgate, is owned by Lee Averies who also owns Swindon Skips on the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate.

Last month, the agency revoked the licence at both sites, giving Mr Averies several months to clear both.

The precise amount of waste which has been removed is not known but the agency say they remain in regular contact over the issue.

It has been estimated that the overall cost of clearing both sites is in the region of £3m, with about £2m of that being at the Swindon Skips site.

If Mr Averies fails to clear the waste there by March 4, then the cost of clearance could fall to the council as the landowner.

Talks have been taking place to try and avert this situation before it arises.

The fire at Averies created numerous problems and, because of the density of the waste as well as its location, firefighters were not able to tackle it easily.

More than 3,300 tonnes of waste had to be moved in order to tackle the fire effectively.

The cost of moving it fell to a number of public bodies.

Initially it was planned to move the burnt rubbish to the former Groundwell Park and Ride site but following a public outcry, it was taken by Hills Waste.

The Marshgate site is a privately owned site so any clearing costs would unlikely fall on the public purse.

The agency has ordered the site to be cleared by April 15. If both sites are not cleared by the dates set, Mr Averies could face prosecution.