Hundreds complain over landfill site odours

Federica BedendoNorth East and Cumbria
News imageBBC The landfill site at Hespin Wood in Rockliffe. In the foreground there's the top of a metal fence and a tree to the right hand side. In the background there's a large hill of grey material taking up most of the picture. On the top there is a yellow digger and there are seagulls flying above the mound.BBC
The operator has agreed to stop taking waste at Hespin Wood after numerous breaches were identified

A landfill site has been threatened with temporary closure following repeated permit breaches for pollution.

The Environment Agency (EA) said it received almost 500 reports about unacceptable odours coming from Hespin Wood in Rockliffe, north of Carlisle, this year.

It said it identified "significant permit breaches" by Manchester-based Seletia which took over the site last year.

The operator has been approached for comment.

An EA spokesman said communities "should not have to tolerate pollution".

He said: "[We] have told Seletia to take immediate action to address the situation.

"We have also increased our regulatory presence on site and will not hesitate to take further enforcement action if required."

Seletia has agreed to stop taking waste temporarily while it tackles the issues, the EA added.

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