Public inquiry into 'stink bomb' tip demanded

Residents claiming foul smells have returned to a landfill site just weeks after it reopened are demanding a public inquiry and considering legal action.

Withyhedge, near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, was closed last May to try and fix odour problems but opened again on 6 January.

Colin Barnett, of campaigners Stop the Stink, said people in Crundale, Haverfordwest and Spittal, all in Pembrokeshire, were being subjected to "horrendous smells again".

In December RML, the company that runs the site, said it was satisfied historic problems had been resolved, adding: "Completion of this work will provide a high level of protection for both the site and its neighbouring communities."

Mr Barnett said "he couldn't believe" it when people began complaining about smells from the site.

It has previously been described as smelling like a "stink bomb on steroids".

He backed calls from Conservative MS Paul Davies for a public inquiry, saying: "The public inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of what's happened."

Campaigners, he said, had been left unsatisfied by responses from public bodies.

"The public inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of what's happened, because we've been flanneled by NRW, by public health, Pembrokeshire council," he said.

"All of these leaders need to take a back step and look at what they have not achieved. It's disgraceful."

Legal action had, Mr Barnett said, been "delayed and delayed".

"It's our only route now, because we've waited for 14 months for this problem to go away," he said.

"We're going to take a different route now and that looks like group litigation."

RML is part of Dauson Environmmental Group, owned by businessman David Neal.

Mr Neal has twice been convicted for environmental crimes, in 2013 and 2017, relating to two companies.

He was given a suspended prison sentence in 2013 for illegally dumping waste on a conservation site and four years later he was prosecuted again for not removing it.

Last year Atlantic Recycling, directed by Mr Neal, pleaded guilty to an environmental offence.

It also emerged last year Vaughan Gething's Labour leadership campaign accepted £200,000 from Dauson Environmmental Group.

NRW said it been monitoring the site since it reopened, adding: "In response to a rise in complaints in recent days, officers from NRW and Pembrokeshire County Council have been in the locality responding to odour incidents as reported.

"No odours attributable to the landfill have been detected."

It had received 34 odour complaints since 6 January, it said, with an increase since 16 January.

This, it said, coincided with the end of a period banning slurry spreading.

Mr Barnett said there was a "clear difference" between the smell of slurry and tip odours.

NRW said an inspection by it and the council will be carried out on 29 January.

Pembrokeshire council said: "We continue to liaise with Natural Resources Wales, Public Health Wales and RML and remain committed in ensuring that we achieve an outcome that is satisfactory for all local residents and businesses."

RML has been approached for comment while the Welsh government declined to.

But First Minister Eluned Morgan said on Tuesday: "I'll keep a very close eye on this, and if those concerns continue then we will have to just discuss with NRW what concrete additional steps will have to be taken."