Residents in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, claim their lives have been turned into a 'living nightmare' by a huge landfill site that now towers over the once-picturesque village. The Erin landfill, operated by Valencia, has grown dramatically over the years, spreading across hillsides and bringing with it swarms of flies, enormous clouds of dust, and a foul stench that residents say makes everyday life unbearable.
Locals report that flies descend upon their living rooms and kitchens daily, and the dust renders their gardens unusable. One mother said her children ask why their home smells so bad, a question she finds deeply upsetting. Another resident noted that during summer, bins become a haven for maggots.
Health and Quality of Life Impact
The recent hot and dry spell has exacerbated the stench, making it 'completely unbearable,' according to residents. Many feel trapped in their homes, unable to sell due to the site's proximity. Amy Jackson, a mother of four, described the situation as a 'daily struggle,' with persistent stench, flies, dust, and relentless noise turning her home into a place of discomfort. She has spent significant sums on fly traps and sticky tapes, yet flies persist. Marie Norman, 54, a carer and mother of four, said the issue has aggravated her asthma and left her battling depression. She stated: 'They've filled the holes to capacity but then don't cover them up so the rubbish has now risen all up the hillside. It has got to be a health hazard. I have to use my inhaler much more often.'
Daily Routines Disrupted
Gary Berresford, 38, whose home sits just 50 feet from the landfill boundary, said swatting flies has become part of his morning routine. He uses a Bug-A-Salt gun to dispatch flies, and his fly traps fill up within days. He added: 'Every morning a new batch of flies manage to find their way through the gaps in the windows into the house. A part of my morning ritual every day is having my coffee and going around shooting flies for about 20 minutes. And the dust is unreal.'
Catherine McConologue, a mother of two from neighbouring Long Duckmanton, said: 'Our cars are constantly covered in dust, the flies are horrendous, and the stench is absolutely awful. Often in summer our bins become a haven for maggots.' She added that the family no longer invites people over during summer due to embarrassment.
Community and Political Response
Councillor Mick Bagshaw of Staveley Town Council confirmed numerous complaints, stating: 'Residents in Duckmanton and Poolsbrook deserve to enjoy their homes, gardens, and sunshine. They shouldn't have to put up with smells, continuous purchases of expensive fly traps and sprays and having to throw away meals because flies land on them.'
Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins said: 'I have heard from many local Duckmanton residents that during the current hot spell, the odours emitted from Erin Landfill have become unbearable, with residents saying they cannot open their windows in this extreme heat and have even been physically sick from the smell. These reports are totally unacceptable, people should not have to live like this and if the landfill operators cannot address this smell, the regulator must step in and take action.'
Operator and Regulator Statements
A spokesperson for Valencia commented: 'We continue to operate the landfill site in accordance with our environmental permit and planning conditions. During the recent heatwave we have increased our dust suppression efforts and will continue to monitor its effectiveness on a daily basis. The Environment Agency regularly visit the site to inspect for evidence of flies and have not found an issue in recent weeks. We have also increased our daily cover activity to further ensure that ageing waste is not able to cause unpleasant odour issues for residents.'
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'We are pressing the operator to take steps to mitigate recent odour issues at this site. The situation is gradually improving and operations on site are now focused solely on resolving this issue. Communities should not have to tolerate odours, and we understand the impact this can have. We are inspecting the site regularly and if we do not see improvements, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action if required.'
