Latest news with #PaulWells
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
These UK seaside towns are blaming ‘horrible smell' on neighboring country
A group of British seaside towns has been hit with a sudden 'horrible smell,' which some have blamed on the French. Locals in Chichester, Bognor, and Littlehampton, in West Sussex, took to social media earlier this week to report a 'strong smell of gas.' Advertisement In 2013, the same area experienced a stink, dubbed Le Pong, which was found to be coming from a chemical plant in Rouen, France. Now, residents fear the French could be sending smells their way again, with some people even posting that they 'feel sick.' West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service says they believe that the smell is coming from the sea, but that if people begin to feel unwell, they should call 999. A spokesperson posted: 'We have had a number of calls from people along the south coast concerned they can smell gas. Advertisement 'It is believed that this might be coming from offshore, rather than a local domestic gas leak. 3 A group of British seaside towns has been hit with a sudden 'horrible smell,' which some have blamed on the French. / SWNS 'We would always encourage anyone who thinks they smell gas to contact their utilities provider. 'If you begin to feel unwell, always dial 999 for emergency medical care.' Advertisement The coastguard has confirmed that they were called to reports of a gas smell, but that they found no cause for concern. A spokesperson said: 'A report of the smell of gas and diesel at Selsey Bill was made to HM Coastguard at about 5:20 pm on July 15. 'West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was informed. Investigations found no evidence of anything untoward.' 3 In 2013, the same area experienced a stink, dubbed Le Pong, which was found to be coming from a chemical plant in Rouen, France. / SWNS Advertisement On Facebook, many locals have taken to sharing their concerns about the smell, with one user commenting: 'We had it in The Close 2 afternoons running, we thought it was from a dirty exhaust as a van had just pulled away! It was certainly a horrible smell and definitely like gas!' A second user wrote: 'Was working over Wick Littlehampton Tuesday and it stank of gas/egg over there. Had to shut the windows.' Another added: 'It stinks again now over east beach side. Sort of sulphurous and gassy. Woke me up at dawn as well.' Some have speculated that the problem could be a gas leak closer to home, but Dan Brown, spokesperson for gas company SGN, has denied that the smell is coming from their gas network. He said, 'We understand residents might be concerned about the smell in the air in these towns over the last couple of days. 'We've responded to dozens of reports, and our engineers have carried out investigations and safety checks at each reported location. 'There's nothing to suggest the smell is coming from our gas network.' Advertisement Cllr Paul Wells described the scent as a 'very rich, potent gas smell' which was making people 'feel faint'- but says that he is unsure of the cause. The Lib Dem councillor, from Bognor Regis Town Council, said: 'I've not been able to find out where the smell has originated from. 'There has been some suggestion it's come ashore from the Channel. I will be raising it as a question at our next Town Council meeting.' In a statement online, Chichester District Council said: 'The smell is described as strong and unpleasant like a 'rich, potent gas smell' or similar to rotten eggs. Advertisement 3 'The smell is believed to be caused by a gas leak from a chemical factory in Rouen, France, which the wind has carried across the English Channel,' said the Chichester District Council in a statement. / SWNS 'It has been reported along the south coast of England, including Chichester, Bognor Regis, and Littlehampton, as well as Kent, and parts of Surrey and London. 'The smell is believed to be caused by a gas leak from a chemical factory in Rouen, France, which the wind has carried across the English Channel. Advertisement 'While the odour has caused concern and has prompted calls to emergency services, it is not considered dangerous and does not pose a health risk. 'The gas contains mercaptan, an additive used to give gas a detectable odour, even though natural gas itself does not have an odour.'
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit seaside towns hit with 'horrible' stench, and the French are getting blamed
A grim smell affecting residents in a number of British seaside towns is being blamed on the French - the smell of 'rotten eggs' has hit the likes of Littlehampton and Bognor Regis A sudden 'horrible smell' likened to 'rotten eggs' has hit several seaside towns, and locals are blaming the French. Residents in Chichester, Bognor and Littlehampton reported a 'strong smell of gas' on social media earlier this week. The same area in West Sussex reported a 'strong smell of gas' that was dubbed 'Le Pong' in 2013. The culprit behind the stink was a chemical plant in Rouen, France. This week, Chichester District Council said the cause of the smell reported this week is a 'a gas leak from a chemical factory in Rouen'. Some residents have even said the smell has made them feel unwell. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it believes the smell is coming from the sea. Those affected and feeling unwell should contact 999. 'We have had a number of calls from people along the south coast concerned they can smell gas,' a spokesperson for the fire service said. 'It is believed that this might be coming from offshore, rather than a local domestic gas leak. 'We would always encourage anyone who thinks they smell gas to contact their utilities provider. If you begin to feel unwell, always dial 999 for emergency medical care.' The coastguard confirmed it was called to reports of a gas smell, but that they found no cause for concern. A spokesperson said: 'A report of the smell of gas and diesel at Selsey Bill was made to HM Coastguard at about 5.20pm on 15 July. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was informed. Investigations found no evidence of anything untoward.' Residents expressed their displeasure in social media posts. One said they thought the smell was from a 'dirty exhaust as a van had just pulled away'. They added that it was 'horrible' and smelled 'like gas'. A second user wrote: 'Was working over wick Littlehampton Tuesday and it stank of gas/egg over there. Had to shut the windows.' Another added: 'It stinks again now over east beach side. Sort of sulphurous and gassy. Woke me up at dawn as well.' Gas company SGN has said the smell is not coming from their network. Spokesperson Dan Brown said SGN understands residents 'might be concerned'. He said: 'We've responded to dozens of reports, and our engineers have carried out investigations and safety checks at each reported location. There's nothing to suggest the smell is coming from our gas network.' Paul Wells, councillor for the Hatherleigh ward on Bognor Regis Town Council, said there was a 'very rich, potent gas smell' which was making people 'feel faint'. He said he was unsure of the cause. The Liberal Democrat councillor added: 'I've not been able to find out where the smell has originated from. There has been some suggestion it's come ashore from the Channel. I will be raising it as a question at our next Town Council meeting.' Chichester District Council said: "The smell is described as strong and unpleasant like a 'rich, potent gas smell' or similar to rotten eggs. It has been reported along the south coast of England, including Chichester, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton as well as Kent, and parts of Surrey and London. "The smell is believed to be caused by a gas leak from a chemical factory in Rouen, France, which the wind has carried across the English Channel. While the odour has caused concern and has prompted calls to emergency services, it is not considered dangerous and does not pose a health risk. "The gas contains mercaptan, an additive used to give gas a detectable odour, even though natural gas itself does not have an odour."
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Beware the Sussex stink! Families living on the south coast plagued by 'rich and potent' stench coming in from the sea
Pungent cheeses are one thing. And we've learned to put up with a whiff of garlic or onions here and there. But now the French have truly outdone themselves on the nose-wrinkling stakes after a cloud of foul-smelling gas wafted over the Channel. The stinky air - dubbed 'Le Pong' - has left exasperated Britons on the south coast retching in disgust. Emergency services in Sussex were swamped with calls from worried locals fearing some sort of environmental disaster. Things were so bad, it even saw the coastguard being scrambled on Tuesday evening. However, besieged residents have been told the stench is not due to some catastrophe - but done to the French. The 'rich and potent' gas cloud, said to smell of sweat and rotten eggs, drifted over from a factory in the northern French city of Rouen. The smell is so bad, locals have reported breathing problems and streaming eyes. It's not the first time the south coast has been plagued by 'Le Pong' - a similar incident happened in 2013, sparking outrage. As locals demand answers, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they believe the smell is coming from the sea. Councillor Paul Wells of Bognor Regis Town Council said: 'Can't seem to get anything out of anybody about what it might be but it seems to be spreading across the south coast. 'It's a very rich, potent gas small. It's making people feel faint. 'Shops have been contacting us looking for advice and the gas board is overloaded with calls. 'There have been reports in Chichester, Bognor and Littlehampton and more from social media. 'People want some answers.' A spokesman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: 'We have had a number of calls from people along the south coast concerned they can smell gas. 'It is believed that this might be coming from offshore, rather than a local domestic gas leak. 'We would always encourage anyone who thinks they smell gas to contact their utilities provider. 'If you begin to feel unwell, always dial 999 for emergency medical care.' Last month, Bognor Regis was crowned the sunniest place in Britain by the Met Office, after receiving more than 1,900 hours of sunshine a year. Its long beach, as well as Butlins resort, are a major draw for the town. However, the stench now blighting the area could prompt tourists to turn their noses up at visiting the seaside resort. Some residents said the whiff smelled of sweat and rotten eggs, while others compared it to stale cabbage, garlic or diesel fumes. A spokesman for gas company SGN, said: 'We've received several calls this afternoon regarding a smell in the air in the Bognor Regis area. 'Our engineers are responding to individual reports, but there's nothing so far to suggest the smell is coming from our network.' The coastguard confirmed it was called at 5.20pm on Tuesday after reports of a 'gas and diesel' smell at Selsey Bill. 'Investigations found no evidence of anything untoward,' a spokesperson said. MailOnline has contacted Lubrizol - which runs the factory in Rouen - to see if there has been another leak at its facility.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sussex residents report bad smell thought to be from France
People living along the south east coast of England are complaining about a "terrible smell" thought to be wafting in from the 2013, the same region was bothered by a smell coming from a chemical plant in Rouen, France, which was dubbed Le residents in Chichester, Bognor and Littlehampton, in West Sussex, are reporting a new stench, being described as a "rich, potent gas smell".West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said it thought the smell was coming from the sea, and gas provider SGN said there was no evidence the smell was from its network. Councillor Paul Wells, from Bognor Regis Town Council, said: "We can't seem to get anything out of anybody about what it might be, but it seems to be spreading across the south coast."Shops have been contacting us looking for advice and the gas board is overloaded with calls."It's a very rich, potent gas smell. It's making people feel faint. People want some answers."The fire service said anyone who felt ill should dial 999 and urged anyone who thought they could smell gas to contact their utilities provider.A spokesperson for SGN said on Tuesday: "We've received several calls this afternoon regarding a smell in the air in the Bognor Regis area."Our engineers are responding to individual reports, but there's nothing so far to suggest the smell is coming from our network."Le Pong, in 2013, was caused when a cloud of gas escaped from the Lubrizol factory in northern France and was blown across BBC has contacted Lubrizol to see if there has been another leak at its coastguard confirmed it was called at 17:20 BST on Tuesday after reports of a "gas and diesel" smell at Selsey Bill."Investigations found no evidence of anything untoward," a spokesperson said.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- BBC News
Bognor councillor calls for police action over Swastika vandalism
A town councillor has called on Sussex Police to "take more action" after Swastikas were drawn on and carved into more than 50 pieces of furniture in a Wells, of Bognor Regis Town Council, said the vandalism in Hotham Park was "horrendous", and claimed it was the latest in a spate of incidents in the added that the town faced a "downward spiral" unless there was a crackdown on Police said it had increased patrols and engagement in the area, and was working to gather evidence, catch offenders and address the underlying issues. The damage to furniture in Hotham Park, which opened 78 years ago, had been appearing since the start of June, Mr Wells he said the vandalism was part of a wider problem in April, a 20-year-old was stabbed to death near the pier, a 17-year-old was taken to hospital after being injured by a machete last month, and there was a series of recent connected burglaries and thefts. "We have our problems in Bognor, but this is more of a general society issue," Mr Wells told BBC Radio said the town council had set up the new Town Action Group, which will work with partners including Sussex Police to tackle some of the Mr Wells added: "We want Sussex Police to take more action. We know their finances and resources are tight, but we've got to start addressing this problem otherwise we're on a downward spiral."Ch Insp Will Keating-Jones said: "We understand the impact crime and anti-social behaviour has on Bognor's residents and businesses, and have introduced a range of new measures with our partners."He said that as well as working with the action group, police would be introducing a specialist mobile vehicle at areas of increased crime or anti-social behaviour, "a method that has had proven success across the county", he with information about the vandalism in Hotham Park is urged to contact police.
