South Elmsall residents complain over 'putrid' smell from quarry
People living in a rural village in West Yorkshire have said a "putrid" smell is making them feel ill. The strong stench - described as "sickly and tar-like" - has lingered over South Elmsall, near Pontefract, for the past three months.Local residents are convinced it is coming from a mineral quarry, the site of a former brickworks where clay and ash are mixed with waste materials to make sustainable construction products. Operator Minore said it works to "the highest environmental standards to protect human health".
The company's consultant engineer, John Carlon, said: "I don't see that the smell is as putrid or as overpowering as the residents do. "There won't be any danger to people's health from the odour. It's just like a farmer spreading manure on their fields."A contractor working on excavations at the site, Tom Utley, told the BBC that he would not have taken the job if he had any concerns about the odour."Is there some involvement from other sites, like sewage works or the landfill over the hill?"You can't pinpoint it on anyone directly."However, residents Mark and Julie Benson, who have lived near the quarry for 30 years, said the smell was "sickly" and affecting their health.Mr Benson said: "It actually makes you feel ill. What is it doing to my health, what is it doing to my neighbours' health?"My wife has recently had to change her inhaler after 20 years of being on the same one with very little problems with her asthma. "Now she is having times when she is breathless."
Last summer, Minore had its environmental licence suspended for bringing in nearly five times more waste than was permitted. Residents claimed that the suspension was being ignored and have filmed wagons bringing in materials they claim contain plastic. In response, Mr Carlon said: "The plastic is separated and brought off-site. "Aggregates have been brought in but that hasn't been waste, that has been for the upkeep of the roads within the site."The Environment Agency (EA) said it had received 45 complaints about the smell over the last couple of months. It has been conducting odour monitoring inspections which have revealed pollution over the permitted levels. It has told the company to stop bringing waste into the site and to remove materials which are not supposed to be there.
However, Minore has now applied for permission to extend its permit for the next 10 years. Mr Benson and his wife said if it was approved, they would have to move."I'm not sure how much more we can take of this smell," he said.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
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