Waste ban lifted at 'smelly' landfill site

A long running campaign has been running about the tip smell

A ban has been lifted on waste being sent to a landfill site where people have complained about the stench.

The Environment Agency said Transwaste Ltd, the operator of the Jameson Road site in Fleetwood, Lancashire, has met the conditions aimed at solving the problem and it expects the smell to reduce over the coming days.

The agency has also revealed it received more than 4,000 complaints about the site in February and March.

Local resident and campaigner Allison Rowe said: "I hope the suspension being lifted doesn't make us go back on the roundabout of 'suspension and stench' because this is what has been happening."

"If that does happen, believe me, the people of Fleetwood will make their voices heard again."

Ms Rowe called for the tip to be shut for good.

She said: "Fleetwood doesn't deserve being poisoned on a daily basis. Feelings are going to run very high.

"It is a seaside town. This ruins the economy as people don't want to come and visit if they are being stunk out by a poisonous stench."

Allison Rowe says the tip should close

The Environment Agency told the tip owner in March it had failed to take "appropriate measures to collect and manage landfill gas", but since then John Neville, from the agency, said: "Transwaste has met the conditions listed in the suspension notice served on 26 March 2025 and therefore it has been lifted.

"We expect the situation to improve as the gas extraction is increased over the coming days.

"We want to reassure the community that we will maintain our increased regulatory response to this site. This includes daily odour checks and regular site inspections.

"If activity at the site causes odours which continue to affect local residents we will not hesitate to take further enforcement action."

A spokesman for Transwaste Ltd said: "On Tuesday evening the Environment Agency confirmed that the work to drill and install the 11 deep wells conformed with all conditions of the suspension notice and, as such, a withdrawal notice was issued.

"Tipping resumed on Wednesday morning and the Environment Agency also undertook an unannounced site inspection the same day. "

The Environment Agency is carrying out daily odour checks