Inside 'UK's smelliest town' in Midlands where families 'feel like they're being gassed'

Residents of the UK's smelliest town in Staffordshire claim they feel like they're being "gassed" despite waste deliveries to a nearby landfill site being halted. They complain the stench from a local waste site smells like "bad eggs", making them feel poorly and devastating their quality of life.

Despite calls to stop waste depositing in Walley's Quarry, situated at the outskirts of Newcastle-under-Lyme. complaints about foul smells infiltrating homes exceed 1,000 every month.

Exasperated residents now call for Environment Agency to probe into the foul odours attributed to the release of hydrogen sulfide gas. Audrey Young, a 48 year old mother of two residing a mile away from the spot, conveyed: "If you look at the bigger picture, there's nearly a complaint per average household."

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She further explained her plight: "It's like you're being gassed in your own home," adding to it, she said, "It causes a lot health implications."

Expressing their suffering, she revealed, "We've got the highest rate of breathing difficulties in the country. We've got the highest number of COPD and lung cancer rates."

Not holding back, Audrey stated: "I lost my mum to COPD and it's not that common. It's like you know everyone you know has it. A lot of counties have it and we're the worst."

Lamenting the state of affairs, she pointed out, "The rubbish comes from places as far away as Scotland. They pass 51 landfills to get here. Some companies send at least 10 loads a day."

According to Audrey, "There's medical waste and animal waste from abattoirs. During Covid I was working in care and all we could do was smell the landfill. My daughter gets nose bleeds. We get a lot of younger children getting bleeds.

"We've had to get air purifiers which are expensive. We're having to keep our plugs in the bath sink and keep the toilet seat down. We can't go into our gardens in the summer.

"As well as that we can't invite people to our homes. We get embarrassed. It's mortifying. There are two investigations going on but we're still waiting on the outcome."

Despite unsuccessful efforts so far, a protest group dubbed 'Stop the Stink' presses on, aiming to push authorities into action. Simmo Burgess, 45, from the nearby Knutton, joined this campaign back in 2019.

The father-of-three stated: "We've been fighting the battle for clean air for five years. The gases from the landfill site have been proven to be consistently above WHO guidelines."

Numerous meetings with Government ministers have taken place, but success seems elusive. He said, "We have met with numerous Government ministers to no avail. The whole community suffers almost daily breathing in toxic fumes."

"They have always reported, mainly to the Environment Agency and also our local council but reporting has dropped due to report fatigue. No one is listening to the complaints. All promises and no action."

Frighteningly, "The gases seep into our homes, with windows and doors shut."

It's an olfactory nightmare "Eggy, sulphur, rotting flesh smells. Makes your eyes sting. It causes nausea and headaches. The young, the old and vulnerable inhaling the gas which exacerbates existing conditions."

"Just driving and walking around the area, you can hit a 'pocket' of gas which can take your breath away and make your eyes stream. Unless you leave the area there is no escape."

"This waste is transported from hundreds of miles away, why? We have evidence they have buried hazardous waste destined for disposal in Europe to save themselves the export costs."

"The site should be managed by a legitimate company who will manage the gases properly. The owners should be prosecuted for their actions, not for the first time, and laws made to make sure this never happens again anywhere."

"The full extent of this environmental disaster will come to light in years to come."

Residents reveal that the stench generated by Silverdale's landfill site leads to the sensation of gas pockets and burning eyes. In response to a mounting outcry over the smell - with complaints reaching 4,210 in February - the Environment Agency paused deliveries to the location in March.

Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council has sought government approval to pursue legal action against the site operator. However, due to next month's general election, Councillor Andy Fear indicated that proceedings would be put on hold.

Council leader, Simon Tagg, expressed his discontent, arguing that the quarry has continually been managed poorly when it comes to controlling the foul odours. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Walleys Quarry assured that the site activities, highly regulated by the Environment Agency, do not pose any threat to human health or the environment.

They further stated that the site "continually inspected the waste deliveries and activities on the landfill to ensure that odour risks are managed, minimised and eradicated."