Residents living near a waste management facility between two Oxfordshire villages have voiced fresh concerns about persistent unpleasant smells emanating from the site.
The local member of parliament for Didcot and Wantage, Olly Glover, has contacted the operators of the landfill site located between Appleford and Sutton Courtenay following what has been described as a dramatic surge in complaints from local people about offensive odours.
This marks the return of an issue that first emerged two years ago, when smells originating from the FCC Environmental landfill prompted a formal investigation after receiving 130 complaints and being classified by the Environment Agency as a significant odour incident.
In correspondence with the company, Mr Glover highlighted that the malodour had been evident for several weeks, noting that this represented a recurring problem rather than a new development.
The MP recalled that during the previous incident, local inhabitants had been promised that corrective measures would be implemented, including the extraction and management of liquid waste, specialised covering of waste areas, and enhanced monitoring both within the site boundaries and in surrounding areas.
The parliamentarian expressed concern that despite these assurances, residents were once again reporting overwhelming smells.
Mr Glover requested a meeting to address the immediate situation and to establish long-term strategies for managing odours from the facility to prevent similar problems in future.
He emphasised that people residing in Sutton Courtenay, Appleford, Didcot and neighbouring communities should not have to endure repeated exposure to offensive smells from the site, nor should they feel compelled to keep windows sealed or remain indoors during periods when the odour is particularly severe.
The Environment Agency confirmed its appreciation for the MP’s involvement and stated that investigations conducted in July had traced the origin of the smells to FCC’s composting operations rather than the landfill itself.
An agency representative indicated that a substantial increase in odour reports had been recorded, and on-site inspections revealed violations of operational permits during July.
The company was instructed to take prompt action to reduce the smells, yet continued monitoring detected ongoing unacceptable levels of odour.
The agency has made clear that additional enforcement measures will be pursued and indicated readiness to deploy regulatory powers to ensure the matter is resolved for local residents.
Officials stated that collaborative efforts with all involved parties would continue to achieve a durable solution.
Unlike the 2024 situation, when the smells were attributed to pooled contaminated liquid within the site, the precise cause of the current odours remains undetermined.
A company representative for FCC Environment stated that as an operator with significant environmental responsibilities, the organisation maintains rigorous standards.
The spokesperson added that close cooperation with partners, neighbouring communities and the Environment Agency is maintained to investigate any reported smells.
Operational management procedures are in place and subjected to regular review to minimise and control potential emissions from the site.