Police assess call to investigate Jameson Road landfill in Fleetwood after thousands of odour complaints
Police are assessing a request to investigate ongoing odour complaints linked to the Jameson Road landfill site in Fleetwood.
Campaign group Operation Ventus has written to Lancashire Constabulary calling for an investigation into whether emissions from the site could amount to a criminal public nuisance.
The group said the request follows more than 20,700 complaints made to the Environment Agency since January 2024, including 492 in the first seven days of this month alone.
In a brief update, a spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “I can confirm we have received the letter, and it is being assessed.”
Operation Ventus argues there is a “credible basis” for police to consider whether the scale and persistence of the odour may meet the legal threshold for a criminal offence.
The group has also written to the Environment Agency asking whether the scale and impact of the odour could meet the threshold for serious harm or be considered for referral to police.
The latest development comes amid ongoing concerns raised by campaigners and politicians over conditions at the site.
Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers has previously called for the landfill to be closed, saying residents are “at breaking point” following months of complaints about foul smells.
She has also raised concerns directly with the Environment Agency and Government, warning the situation has had a significant impact on the local community.
Residents have reported ongoing issues with odours in the area, with complaints including impacts on health, wellbeing and daily life.
The landfill site on Jameson Road, operated by Transwaste Recycling & Aggregates Ltd, has been the subject of repeated concerns from residents, campaigners and local politicians.
In a statement, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The community should not have to tolerate odours that affect their environment.
“We have pushed Transwaste to cover areas of the site where waste has recently been deposited to reduce odour and have pressed them to install permanent capping as soon as possible to prevent future emissions. This permanent capping work has begun.
“Environment Agency officers are on the ground actively monitoring the situation, and if we don’t see improvements, we will not hesitate to take further enforcement action.”
The regulator said it has received 956 complaints between the start of April and April 8 alone, and confirmed it is reviewing correspondence from Operation Ventus.
It added the situation has not been referred to police, stating odour issues fall within its regulatory remit under environmental legislation.
The Environment Agency said it is carrying out ongoing odour monitoring, surveys and site inspections, with waste covering at key areas of the site now almost complete and permanent capping works expected to take around six weeks.
It also said its latest air quality monitoring found pollutants were within health-based limits, although some odours linked to landfill gas had been detected.
The agency added it has increased scrutiny of the site in recent weeks, including audits of management systems and requiring further action from the operator to reduce odour and protect the community.
As previously reported, complaints have been linked to symptoms including headaches, nausea and breathing difficulties, although the causes of those symptoms remain under investigation by relevant authorities.
More detailed information about ongoing works at the site is available via the Environment Agency’s community engagement pages for the Jameson Road Landfill Site.
Residents are encouraged to report odours directly to the authorities.
Smells can be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60, or to Wyre Council via its online reporting form.
Transwaste has also been approached for comment.