We live in a pretty seaside town…but it smells of rotting waste: Locals in tourist hotspot can’t open their windows and ‘fall ill’ as mystery odour blights the area
Frustrated locals have launched a desperate appeal for help to tackle a mystery stench that is plaguing their pretty seaside town.
The persistent smell has affected residents in parts of Brightlingsea in Essex for the last two years, particularly during the summer months.
The town’s inhabitants describe the stench as similar to rotting waste, before it evolves overnight into a ‘oily, chemical’ aroma that disrupts people’s sleep.
Experts from the Environment Agency and local council have investigated the issue but have so far been unable to locate the source of the problem.
Now, a group of residents have petitioned Tendring District Council to employ external experts to carry out a more detailed investigation.
A persistent smell has affected residents in parts of Brightlingsea in Essex for the last two years, particularly during the summer months
The town is known for its pretty seafront lined with colourful beach huts
Town councillor Mat Court (left) and local resident Ben Calderwood are among those campaigning for action to tackle the stench
Town councillor Mat Court, who submitted the petition, said the closure of a probe carried out between June and July before it could produce any answers was ‘deeply disappointing’.
READ MORE – Tesco shoppers disgusted by vile mystery stench that has plagued supermarket for six years
He told MailOnline: ‘We really feel let down by the people we pay our taxes to because it shouldn’t be left to us to try and work out what this smell is.
‘Tendring District Council and the Environment Agency are meant to look after this stuff for us and employ experts to work out what this problem is being caused by.
‘We’re two years into this now and it doesn’t seem like we’re anywhere closer to working out what this is.
‘The really frustrating thing is no one at the Environment Agency or Tendring District Council seems to want to help us.’
Residents in the affected area in the north of Brightlingsea have complained of breathing issues and say they are unable to open their windows.
Some local people have previously suggested the odour was coming from a rubbish site run by Eastern Waste Disposal (EWD) in the north of the town.
Residents have formed a ‘stench busters’ group to urge their neighbours to report the smell to the Environment Agency
The smell is coming from an area to the north of the town (pictured is a general view)
Some local people have previously suggested the odour was coming from a rubbish site run by Eastern Waste Disposal (EWD) in the north of the town. But officials disagree
But the Environment Agency has said it did not support this theory, saying in a statement: ‘We have visited the site on several occasions since the initial reports and found no evidence of odour on site. We take all such reports seriously and act accordingly.’
Council officials have explored other sources without success, and have now stopped proactive investigations in favour of only responding to tip-offs from residents.
MailOnline has contacted EWD’s owners, Dunmow Group, for comment.
Local resident Ben Calderwood is among those campaigning for action to tackle the stench.
He told MailOnline: ‘There are two smells, both coming from the same area. One is a horrible putrid rubbish smell – like if you left your waste out to fester and go rotten and then took a big whiff of the bag.
‘The other smell, which you get around one or two in the morning, is an oily, chemically odour that permeates everything.
‘If you’re in the top half of Brightlingsea you’ll smell it. Some people aren’t able to open their windows or go out in the garden.
‘It’s a particular problem during hot nights when people leave their windows open and wake up with the oily, chemical smell in their room.
‘Nobody denies there’s a smell, they just don’t know what’s causing it. So why close an investigation before you know?
‘It’s particularly worrying that there’s a school near to where the smell is coming from. They shouldn’t have to put up with that – it can’t be good for children.’
Councillor Court will address Tendring Council cabinet on October 6 over residents’ concerns.
A Tendring District Council spokesperson said: ‘Officers from within our Environmental Protection team (EP) have undertaken extensive pro-active odour monitoring in Brightlingsea since the beginning of June 2023, which has included more than 27 proactive two reactive visits at various times of the day and evening.
‘Our partners in the Environment Agency who also have statutory responsibility for such investigations have undertaken their own investigations and, like us, found no evidence with which to act upon.
‘Based on this we are continuing to carry out reactive monitoring visits – which is an appropriate and proportional use of council resource given the evidence found to date – and ask members of the public to report odours so we can continue to assess the situation – the Customer Support Team can be contacted on 01255 686 767 or at [email protected].
‘The petition was reported to full council last night, and will be addressed by Cabinet when it meets on 6 October – it would be inappropriate to comment further before this discussion and associated report is completed.’
Source: Read Full Article
