The Environment Agency says it has continued monitoring odour levels in Calne at different times of the day, with officers carrying out checks from as early as 5am until 10.30pm following ongoing complaints from residents.
In an update issued today, the agency said monitoring is taking place at varying times because odour levels can change throughout the day, adding that officers are targeting periods when smells are “present and at their highest”.
Credit: The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency said being out in the community has allowed officers to respond quickly to reports, often arriving at locations within five minutes of complaints being made.
Officials also said weather conditions are playing a significant role in how odours are experienced across the town. With prevailing winds returning this week, the agency said it has noticed a drop in complaints and expects odour levels in Calne to reduce over the coming days.
However, it added that monitoring would be increased again if conditions change.
Responding to questions from residents about how monitoring information is being used, the Environment Agency said officers’ observations are being used as evidence of the impact on the community. The data is informing compliance work at the landfill site and helping officers assess the effectiveness of actions being taken by Hills Waste Solutions to reduce odour levels.
The agency said it hopes to share more monitoring data publicly in future updates.
Meanwhile, Hills Waste Solutions has started work on permanently capping the current operational area of the landfill site.
Environment Agency officers visited the site on Thursday to inspect preparatory work, including the raising of temporary gas collection wellheads to allow extraction to continue while permanent wells are installed.
Contractors will then place one metre of clay in 250mm layers to form the main seal or cap, which will connect to the clay sidewalls of the landfill cell. Once the capping work is complete, permanent vertical gas wells will be installed.
The Environment Agency said the completed work should help reduce odour levels and confirmed officers will continue visiting the site to ensure work progresses as planned.
Residents are being encouraged to continue reporting odour issues to help target the agency’s monitoring response here.
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