Chesterfield MP responds to residents’ concerns about landfill site
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins has responded to residents concerns after reports of the ‘rotting egg’ smell returning to Poolsbrook and Duckmanton.
Residents reported that the bad smell returned to their villages in August – after the Environment Agency received over 300 complaints over unbearable landfill odour in July.
While the landfill site operator Valencia apologised for the odour reported in July, the residents were told that the August smell was caused by agricultural activity.
But many were left disgruntled with the explanation, saying there was a massive difference between ‘muck smell’ and ‘rotting matter and gases’ odour.
They called for Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins to step in.
Now Mr Perkins has responded to the reports, urging residents to keep informing him and the Environment Agency of any issues caused by the landfill.
He said: “Following the totally unacceptable odour problems last reported in July, urgent action was taken, including an Environment Agency suspension notice, and Valencia was forced to stop accepting waste while action was taken to address the odours.
"Complaints about smells and flies immediately reduced.
"Complaints made in August were investigated and found to be linked to agricultural activity, not the landfill, which was still not accepting waste at the time.
"The EA is now reporting very few odour complaints and continues to monitor the site.
"Resident complaints are always investigated and had led to very serious enforcement action, which I expect has been expensive for Valencia too.
"So, I would urge residents to keep reporting any concerns to the EA and to copy me in, so we can continue to monitor the situation and escalate it, if unacceptable smells re-occur.
"Reporting issues does work, as we saw with the strong action and suspension of activities in summer.
"I will continue to press Valencia and the Environment Agency to ensure we see lasting improvement, rather than temporary relief followed by the same problems returning.
"If we do not see lasting improvement, I will take this further and raise with the Government, but current complaint numbers are low.”