People who moved into property next to landfill were shocked by the smell

Residents living next to a landfill have called for an investigation into why their town smells of rotting trash.

Residents of Walley’s Quarry, Staffordshire, say fumes from a nearby landfill are leaving a foul smell, seriously affecting their quality of life.

The smell became so bad that waste deliveries were suspended in an attempt to alleviate the stench.

But more than 1,000 complaints about odors seeping into homes are filed every month.

Exasperated residents are now asking the Environment Agency to investigate the odors caused by the release of hydrogen sulphide.

Mother-of-two Audrey Young, 48, who lives a mile from the site, said: “It’s like you’re being gassed in your own home. This has many health consequences.

“We have the highest rate of breathing difficulties in the country. We have the highest rates of COPD and lung cancer.

“There is medical waste and animal waste from slaughterhouses. My daughter has a nosebleed because of this and we have had to get expensive air purifiers.

“We can’t go into our gardens in summer. Also, we cannot invite people to our house. We are embarrassed. It’s mortifying.

A protest group called Stop the Stink was launched to pressure authorities to take action, but so far without success.

Simmo Burgess, 45, who lives in nearby Knutton, joined the campaign group in 2019.

The father-of-three said: “Smells of eggs, sulfur and rotting flesh. It stings the eyes.

“Gas emitted from the landfill have been proven to be consistently above WHO guidelines.

“The gases seep into our homes, with the windows and doors closed. This causes nausea and headaches.

“Just drive and walk around the area to reach a ‘pocket’ of gas that can take your breath away and make your eyes water.”

The Environment Agency suspended deliveries to the site in March after 4,210 complaints about odors were reported in February.

Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council has asked the government for permission to take legal action against the site.

Councilor Andy Fear said the process would now be delayed until next month’s general election.

Council leader Simon Tagg said the quarry was not managed “in a way that stopped odors from escaping, and that has always been the case”.

A spokesperson for Walleys Quarry said the site was “strictly regulated by the Environment Agency to ensure that activities on site do not harm human health or the environment”.

They added that the site “continuously inspects waste deliveries and activities at the landfill to ensure odor risks are managed, minimized and eradicated”.

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