Is this the UK’s smelliest town? Locals reveal fumes from waste site that stink of ‘bad eggs’ make them ill and feel like they’re being ‘gassed’

People living in Britain’s smelliest city have said they feel like they are being ‘gassed’, despite waste deliveries to a nearby landfill being halted.

Local residents near Walleys Quarry, located on the outskirts of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, said fumes from the waste site leave behind a foul smell of ‘bad eggs’, making them sick.

The stench was so bad that the waste supply was stopped in April, according to residents.

Despite no more waste coming into the site, more than 1,000 complaints are made every month about odors entering people’s homes.

Locals are now demanding that the Environment Agency investigate the odors caused by the release of hydrogen sulphide gas.

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Protester Simmo Burgess outside Walleys Quarry landfill in Silverdale, Stafffordshire

Walleys Quarry landfill in Silverdale, Stafffordshire, continues to emit putrid fumes despite years of complaints

The stench was so bad that the waste supply was stopped in April, according to residents

Protester Audrey Young outside Walleys Quarry landfill in Silverdale, Stafffordshire

Mum-of-two Audrey Young, 48, who lives a mile from the site, said: ‘If you look at the bigger picture there is almost one complaint per average household.

‘It’s like being gassed in your own home.

‘It causes many health consequences.

“We have the highest rate of breathing difficulties in the country. We have the highest COPD and lung cancer rates.

‘I lost my mother to COPD and it doesn’t happen that often. It’s like knowing everyone you know has it. Many provinces have it and we are the worst.

‘The waste comes from places as far away as Scotland. They pass 51 landfills to get here. Some companies ship at least 10 loads per day.

‘There is medical waste and animal waste from slaughterhouses.

‘During Covid I worked in healthcare and all we could do was smell the landfill.

‘My daughter gets nosebleeds. We get a lot of younger children who have hemorrhages.

“We have had to purchase air purifiers that are expensive.”

She added: ‘We have to leave our plugs in the sink and keep the toilet seat down.

‘We cannot go into our gardens in the summer. Moreover, we cannot invite people to our home. We are ashamed. It’s humiliating.

“There are two investigations underway, but we are still waiting for the outcome.”

Walleys Quarry landfill in Silverdale, Stafffordshire, which continues to emit putrid fumes

Residents of Britain’s smelliest village fear they are being ‘poisoned in their own homes’ due to stench coming from landfill

A truck drives around Walleys Quarry in Silverdale, Stafffordshire

A protest group called Stop the Stink was formed to pressure authorities to take action, but has so far been unsuccessful.

Simmo Burgess, 45, who lives in nearby Knutton, joined the campaign group in 2019.

The father-of-three said: “We have been fighting the battle for clean air for five years.

‘The gases from the landfill have been proven to be consistently above WHO guidelines.

“We have met with numerous government ministers to no avail. The entire community has to deal with inhaling toxic fumes almost every day.

“They have always reported, mainly to the Environment Agency and also to our council, but reporting has declined due to report fatigue.

‘No one listens to the complaints. All promises and no action.

‘The gases seep into our homes, with closed windows and doors.

‘Egg, sulphur, rotting meat smells. Let your eyes sting.

‘It causes nausea and headaches. Young, elderly and vulnerable people inhale the gas, which worsens existing conditions.

“Just driving and walking around the area, you can hit a ‘bag’ of gas that takes your breath away and makes your eyes water.

Protester Audrey Young outside Walleys Quarry landfill in Silverdale, Stafffordshire

Walleys Quarry landfill in Silverdale, Stafffordshire, which continues to emit putrid fumes

Despite no more waste coming into the site, more than 1,000 complaints are made every month about odors entering people’s homes

“Unless you leave the area, there is no escape.

‘This waste is transported from hundreds of kilometers away, why?

‘We have evidence that they have buried hazardous waste destined for disposal in Europe to save themselves the cost of exporting.

‘The site must be managed by a legitimate company that manages the gases properly.

‘The owners should be prosecuted for their actions, not for the first time, and laws should be made to ensure this doesn’t happen again anywhere.

‘The full extent of this environmental disaster will come to light in the coming years.’

People say the smell caused by the Silverdale location causes gas pockets and burns their eyes.

The Environment Agency suspended deliveries to the site in March after the number of odor complaints reached 4,210 in February.

Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council has asked the government for permission to take legal action against the site.

Councilor Andy Fear said the process would now be postponed by next month’s general election.

Council leader Simon Tagg said the quarry was not ‘properly managed to prevent odors from being released, and that has always been the case’.

A spokesperson for Walleys Quarry said the site was ‘strictly regulated by the Environment Agency to ensure that on-site activities do not harm human health or the environment.’

They added that the site was ‘continually inspecting waste deliveries and activities at the landfill to ensure odor risks are managed, minimized and eradicated.’