A holiday company has put aside an ‘emergency holiday fund’ to help Duckmanton and Poolsbrook residents ‘escape the smells, flies and dust’ surrounding Erin Landfill.

Holiday company On the Beach has put aside an emergency £20k fund for residents of Duckmanton and Poolsbrook after the Environment Agency has received over 300 complaints over horrendous smell and fly infestation linked to Erin Landfill site.

Customers who have booked a trip with On the Beach and live in one of the two affected villages, have received an email early this morning (Wednesday, July 22), stating that free credit is now in their online accounts.

The email, which has only been sent to customers who did not opt out of receiving communications from On the Beach, also encourages locals to share the dedicated email address, set up specifically for Poolsbrook and Duckmanton, with neighbours who want to escape the intoxicating conditions.

Erin landfill site is towering over Duckmanton. (Credit: Amy Jackson)

placeholder image — Erin landfill site is towering over Duckmanton. (Credit: Amy Jackson)

The emergency fund was set up following reports from residents who say foul odours, swarms of flies and clouds of dust have left them unable to open windows or enjoy their gardens during hot weather.

Some families claim the stench has become so overpowering that they feel like prisoners in their own homes.

Caspar Nelson, holiday expert at On the Beach, said: “When we heard that residents in Duckmanton and Poolsbrook can’t open their windows or enjoy the sunshine without being hit by putrid smells and swarms of flies, we knew we had to do something.

“It’s a bit rubbish when the sun shines and you can’t enjoy it, that’s no way to spend the summer.

Erin landfill site is located on the border of two Derbyshire villages Duckmanton and Poolsbrook.

“The emergency fund is now active and we hope we can get them escaping Erin landfill for a beach far away from within days. We’ve sent an urgent email to every known customer from the area and are encouraging them to pass on details so more can apply.

“If we can help get the entire population of Duckmanton and Poolsbrook away, we will.”

The only condition stated on the email, was that the email address to apply was not shared with anyone at Valencia, the company operating the landfill.

Following more than 300 complaints, Valencia apologised for the intolerable smell and temporarily halted waste deliveries while promising to transfer the waste to a new landfill cell and move soil to cover the waste and as soon as possible.