Labour council BLASTED for bin day 'NIGHTMARE' as bags go uncollected
By George Bunn
Published: 15/05/2024
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Protests have broken out at a town that has been plagued by a stench so bad it is causing nosebleeds.
Residents of Fleetwood, Lancashire, claim the town still reeks despite the deadline to clear the air passing today.
The landfill site on Jameson Road has severely disrupted local life, with people avoiding opening their doors and windows or walking their dogs due to the overpowering smell.
Officers are now focusing on "two distinct types of odour" namely the 'bin waste' odour and the 'rotten egg' odour which is often associated with landfill gas.
The Environment Agency has been hit with complaints about the persistent stench emanating from the site. In February, there were 75 complaints lodged, followed by 1,379 in March, 1,157 in April, and already 337 gripes for May, reports LancsLive.
Transwaste, the company operating the landfill, were ordered to cap the offending cell area, a task expected to take several weeks, aiming for May 15 as the target date for completion.
However, on May 14, Transwaste issued a statement saying: "Lining work continues, but initial external delays beyond our control and bad weather have delayed progress slightly.
"However, as we approach completion, there should be a cumulative and noticeable reduction in odour as the face is sealed."
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Local resident Vicky Nash told LancsLive: "If anything, the gas and odour is much worse than the beginning of the year.
"So, if you could explain to us all, how this is possible when you have almost completed the cap, I think we'd all appreciate it, because in my opinion, this isn't doing anything to contain the gas and the odour from your landfill.
"And rumour has it, you've started to dig up another cell now, so capping one and opening another is like p***ing in the vile stinking wind!"
Area environment manager for the Environment Agency in Cumbria and Lancashire John Neville told GB News: "We understand how unpleasant the odour issues are and we are committed to making improvements for local residents and the environment.
"We have increased our regulatory inspections of the site and our officers are out assessing the odour and its impact daily.
"On April 9 we served an enforcement notice setting out action the site operator, Transwaste, need to take to bring the site back into compliance with its permit. This includes covering the problematic areas of the landfill site by May 15, which will help reduce odour emissions.
"We expect the operator to comply with the conditions of their environmental permit and stop unacceptable impacts on the local community and the environment."
Deputy director from UKHSA North West Dr Merav Kliner told GB News: "We understand how unpleasant the situation at Jameson Road landfill is for local people. UKHSA’s role is to provide public health advice to the Environment Agency, as the regulator, and help the local authority inform the local community about any risk.
"We are aware of symptoms reported within the community. These include reports of strong odours and transient health effects, such as eye and respiratory irritation.
"The human nose is very sensitive. Strong odours are unpleasant and can impact on wellbeing, leading to stress and anxiety."
Dr Kilner added: "Some people may experience physical symptoms, such as nausea, headaches or dizziness, as a reaction to strong odours, even when the substances that cause those odours are not at concentrations that are directly harmful to health... any risk to long-term physical health is likely to be small, but cannot be completely excluded.
"Current data received from monitoring by the Environment Agency shows levels of hydrogen sulphide above normal background levels.
"The current levels recorded do not change our current health advice. We will continue to review the results and update our advice as needed and we will continue to provide advice to the Environment Agency and support the local authorities with their response to this situation."
