BIFFA Waste Services is about to begin the final stages of restoring its landfill site at Holiday Moss, Rainford. But the work will require additional lorry trips for a limited period.

The news will be welcomed by villagers who for many years raised complaints over potential hazards from substances being dumped at the site, unpleasant odours, and massive tip lorries travelling through narrow village streets and past schoolchildren to dump their loads.

Once restored, the site, which stopped accepting waste in 1997, will comprise woodland and grass areas, together with public footpaths and local community access.

In order to complete the restoration, Biffa is transporting 7,500 cubic metres of clay to Holiday Moss to complete the sealing of the top of the site. Topsoil will then be added to allow the planting of trees and grass.

The work will last for four weeks, beginning on Monday, June 18 and during this time there will be an increase in traffic to and from the site. After completion, there will effectively be no commercial traffic into and out of Holiday Moss except that associated with the long-term management and maintenance of the site.

Biffa closed site manager, Peter Lunt, who is managing the restoration, said: "This is the final step in the restoration of the Holiday Moss site. Restored landfill sites can become valuable amenities to local communities and we hope that those living in and around Holiday Moss area will enjoy this new open space".

Biffa will continue to monitor the site after the completion of its restoration. Four electricity generators, already on site, will convert landfill gas to electricity for at least the next ten years, putting enough power back into the National Grid to supply some 8,000 homes.