'Unbearable' smoke in Falmouth as update issued on fire

File picture of Falmouth Harbour
-Credit: (Image: Falmouth Harbour)


Residents in Falmouth putting up with stinking eye-burning acrid smoke may have to put up with it for the time being as authorities confirm a fire is being allowed to die out naturally. Many residents in Falmouth have complained that the smoke coming from burning compost at the local organic Greenspot farm at Higher Kergilliack on the Constantine Road has been unbearable.

Greyish smoke that burns your eyes and throat and stinks to high heavens has been blowing down hill over homes for several days. Many residents in the seaside town and neighbouring Penryn said the smoke, which was worse at the weekend, has forced them to go inside and close all the doors and windows because it stinks so much.

The smoke has been described by downwind locals as 'acrid', vile', 'evil' and stinking of burning plastic. Many locals have taken to social media wondering about the smell. On the Falmouth,Penryn And Surrounding Areas Community Information X on Facebook, which has more than 24,000 members, some residents said the smoke has been blowing downhill for almost a week.

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Others said it had been worse at the weekend when high winds and bad weather seemed to disperse the acrid smoke all over Falmouth. One resident said: "The smell was vile on Sunday night and really strong around Eve Parc." A fellow resident added: "It was the same down at Boslowic. I generally thought there was a fire in my house and woke up in a panic."

Some residents said the smell had become so bad they had to close all the windows. One resident posted: "I ended up having to close my windows and the rooms stunk of smoke all night. It ended up right down my throat."

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Greenspot owner Neil Pengelly said the compost on his farm had been set alight by local children, and not for the first time.

Cornwall Council has now issued an update on the situation. A spokesperson for the local authority confirmed that Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service was called to the site at 8.22am on Monday, September 30. They said: "One appliance attended. The landowner had been in contact with the Environment Agency and was advised to let the fire burn as the best method to extinguish."

Truro and Falmouth MP Jayne Kirkham said: "The Fire Brigade said that they were meeting with the Environment Agency today at Greenspot to discuss how best to deal with it. Once compost is burning it’s apparently very hard to put it out. They were hoping the wind was going to change direction today (Tuesday October 1)."

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “The Environment Agency is working as part of the multi-agency group to manage any impacts to the environment and investigate any potential offences that may have been committed.”

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