Landfill site given 60 days to stop the smell

A landfill which has sparked more than 20,000 complaints about noxious odours has been given 60 days to stop the smell.

The site on Jameson Road in Fleetwood, Lancashire, has faced complaints for years, with some nearby residents claiming it had affected their health.

Now Wyre Council has issued an abatement notice to the operator Transwaste "to implement measures that will prevent unwanted odour... from unreasonably affecting people at their homes or places of work".

Transwaste said it was "already delivering a comprehensive programme of works that goes significantly beyond statutory requirements and which the company believes will resolve the odour issues raised".

The leader of Wyre Council, Michael Vincent, said it was "not something that is going to immediately make things better for people" but added: "We want to keep the pressure on Transwaste to get them to do what they need to do, so that people can have their lives back".

Councils can serve a statutory nuisance abatement notice, when it identifies a "nuisance" as outlined under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

This can include things like noises from a premises or from vehicles, smoke or smells from industry, trade or business premises.

Once served on those responsible, if they do not comply, they can be prosecuted and fined a lump sum with further fines for each day they fail to do so.

Those served with an abatement notice can appeal to a magistrates' court within 21 days of getting the notice.

Transwaste said: "Jameson Road operates fully within the conditions of its Environment Agency permit."

It said its current programme of works "includes the permanent capping works, multiple phases of deep gas well installation throughout 2025 and 2026, an expanded landfill gas extraction network, enhanced cover materials and continuous independent monitoring".

"Wyre Council has itself appointed independent consultants to audit the site on multiple occasions," spokesman said.

"Transwaste is disappointed that the council has chosen not to publicise the findings of these audits as we believe this would give a more balanced picture.

"The company will continue to engage openly with residents, Wyre Council and the Environment Agency, and remains fully committed to minimising any impact on the local community while completing this essential work."

In July 2024 the landfill site operator was served a suspension notice to stop accepting waste until work to control the cause of the smells was undertaken.

The suspension was withdrawn in April last year after Transwaste met the conditions.

Despite thousands of complaints about the smell of rotten eggs, which was said to have made some residents ill, the landfill site was deemed to have met safety standards after an EA report in May.

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