05 September 2023 , 11:33
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An investigation has been launched after a foul odour has caused residents to complain.
Locals in Tyneside have compared the pong to human waste, sparking an urgent probe into where it's coming from. It has spread across a significant portion of the North East, reaching as far as Gateshead and even infiltrating Newcastle city centre, Wardley, Felling, and Low Fell over the past weekend.
Environmental officials are now scrambling to find the source of this vile odour, which has left locals gagging and unable to enjoy the recent warm weather due to the pervasive pong.
A resident of Low Fell told ChronicleLive: "It honestly smelled like poo, I thought that someone must have put some manure or fertiliser down." She added: "I have never known anything like it before here. The only time you would get that smell is going past a field or a farm."
The timing couldn't be worse, with the hot weather exacerbating the situation. She continued: "It's especially bad with the hot weather coming this week because people will want to have their windows open."
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This isn't the first time the area has been hit with such a stink. Back in July, similar complaints were made, with the culprit being identified as the Wardley Biogas Plant at the Follingsby Park industrial estate. However, the Environment Agency (EA) has ruled out the anaerobic digestion facility, which produces energy from food waste, as the source of the current olfactory offence.
An EA spokesperson said: "We are working in partnership with Gateshead Council to determine the source of odour across Gateshead and Newcastle city centre. Following reports of odours from the BioConstruct plant in Wardley Colliery our officers have conducted monitoring and can confirm the odour is not from this site's waste activities."
The public is urged to report any local incidents to the Environment Agency's 24-hour hotline on 0800 807060 or contact the local council.
A spokesperson from Gateshead Council told ChronicleLive: "We're investigating the source of the strong smell reported to us. One potential source at this time of year is the spreading of biosolids on agricultural land."
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