Survey showed 93 % of residents that are local to the Mick George Landfill rated the stench last summer as strong to sickening.

Research conducted by posting an on-line survey to local residents near the Rushton site.

After years of the Environment Agency (EA) promising the next ‘fix’ residents are fed up with the lack of policing of the odour and ineffective management of the site when it comes to responding to residents’ concerns.

Not only are crucial aspects of the residents’ telephone reports being ignored by the EA but negligible feedback is being given to those concerned and requesting it. Residents have stated in volume (92% of those surveyed to be exact) that they are worried about the health implications of these pungent and putrid odours and people feeling sick to their stomach. With one neighbour reporting that the local GP surgery had to report a spike in Asthma related cases to Environmental Health following yet another fire at the landfill at the end of summer 2019.

We've been asked to remove the person's name of the EA who said “If you feel sick or feel unwell to seek medical attention” following the reporting of residents feeling unwell following the last fire. Mr Wilkinson went on to state once again that farm smells cover the area despite the fact that multiple residents had gotten in their cars on numerous occasions and tracked the smell to the landfill.

With years and years of suffering from the large scale landfill operation nearby, residents are tired and battle worn. The EA is supposed to be protecting the residents and yet they are continually putting residents on the front line to fight this undeniably awful issue.

The EA have privileged access to recourse against the site but they themselves feel that their hands are tied. This again, leave the residents in an impossible situation.

The key to a successful approach is to plan to shut the site down. Years of ruining local residents summers has to stop.