Residents warned of increase in landfill smells

The landfill site has previously been the subject of complaints

Residents living near a landfill site that has attracted complaints over "vile" odours are being warned of a short-term increase in smells as work to fix it gets under way.

Work is continuing at the Granville landfill near Telford to control gas emissions, the council said, following issues raised by people living nearby.

In December, site operator Potters (Midlands) Ltd will install permanent wells to capture gas from newly-deposited waste before it escapes into the atmosphere.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "While this work is necessary, it may result in a temporary increase in odour during the drilling process."

People living nearby have previously complained about a "vile, eggy odour" coming from the site, saying they needed to keep their windows closed because of it.

The ongoing work forms part of the operator's obligations to manage gas and odour.

The gas wells will be installed in a cell previously filled with waste, the Environment Agency said in an update on its website.

Meanwhile, the operator is in the process of filling the final waste cell on site, it added.

"The on-site gas plant continues to burn captured landfill gas, helping to reduce odour and carbon emissions, while supplying approximately 1MW of electricity to the grid," the Environment Agency said.

The update added the agency was working closely with Potters (Midlands) Ltd and the local council and regularly inspecting the site to monitor progress and ensure environmental standards and permit conditions were met.

A spokesperson for Telford & Wrekin Council said the authority was ensuring residents' concerns were "being represented and heard".

It added residents were encouraged to "continue to report all odour issues" to a 24-hour Environment Agency hotline.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.