Chippenham MP Sarah Gibson has taken concerns about ongoing odour issues affecting Calne directly to the Prime Minister, pressing for action and answers from regulators.
Raising the issue this morning during Prime Minister’s Questions, she described how residents across Calne were being forced to close their windows due to persistent sulphurous smells.
She told the Commons that children had been suffering sore throats and said she had struggled to get clear answers from both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency - adding that the only response she had received was an acknowledgement that controls at the site may not be working effectively.
Ms Gibson said it was “not the kind of thing you expect in the UK” and raised concerns about residents’ confidence in the safety of the air they are breathing.
She urged the Prime Minister to intervene to ensure action was taken and that residents received reassurance about potential health impacts.
In response, the Prime Minister said he would follow the issue up and ensure she received the answers she and her constituents were entitled to.
The intervention follows a rise in complaints from residents about odours believed to be linked to the Lower Compton landfill site.
Ms Gibson has also written formally to DEFRA calling for urgent, localised air quality testing in and around Calne, including monitoring for gases such as hydrogen sulphide.
Her letter highlights concerns raised by residents, including headaches and sore throats, as well as uncertainty about possible long-term health effects.
She has also called for a review of monitoring and enforcement at the site, along with further testing of waste materials being brought in.
Ms Gibson said she had visited the area herself and experienced the impact of the odour first-hand.
Alongside this, she has spoken directly with Hills Waste, which operates the site. The company has outlined plans to tackle the issue, including covering active landfill areas, increasing odour control measures and bringing forward improvements to gas extraction.
While these steps have been welcomed, she said she would continue to press for further action to ensure the problem is resolved.
She added that the situation had gone on for too long and that residents deserved to feel comfortable and safe in their own homes.
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