'It's with us day and night': Walsall residents protest over tip site's 'rotten' smell - in pictures and video
Residents living near a landfill site in Walsall have come together to protest over a "rotten smell" which they say is affecting their lives.
The strong stench is coming from the Highfields South Landfill on Walsall Road, Walsall Road, which is run by Enovert.
Now two meetings are set to be held over the issue – one in response to a petition, the other a discussion between all parties.
The petition, which has attracted almost 3,300 signatures, has already been submitted to Walsall Council by Councillor Richard Worrall – with the topic set to be discussed at a full council meeting at the end of the month.
Enovert, Walsall Council, and residents will also take part in a liaison meeting – the date of which has not been set – to hear concerns over the issue.
Natalie Gallagher, who set up the petition, said: "The smell is seeping into our homes and children are being sick at night.
"It's with us day and night with the whole community affected – including local businesses and the kids who walk to school.
"The community has really come together and we've had a really good response to it.
"Leaflets have been made, funded through donations, to inform older people – who don't use social media – about how to report the issue.
"We're going to be having a liaison meeting with Enovert, the council and representatives from the community so we can figure out a way to stop this happening – and stop it in future."
The 42-year-old said she wanted to raise both the short-term and long-term health implications at both meetings.
She added: "It's an eggy smell – like a rotten kind of smell.
"Everybody is in agreement that there's a problem and they've said it's down to the weather.
"But I don't think it's been any worse than any other winter we've had.
"We're waiting for a liaison meeting to find out what they are saying.
"As well as stopping the smell permanently, we want to highlight the short-term and long-term health implications – it gives you constant headaches and sometimes you get to 5pm and don't want to eat your evening meal because the smell is so bad.
"You can't put your washing out or enjoy the outside, either."
Environment Agency chiefs say they are investigating the smell after a number of reports.
