More than 1,000 tonnes of “sewage sludge” have been seen at a landfill site near Doncaster, according to an MP for the town. Lee Pitcher said in a Facebook post he had been told the waste was being stored in “an uncovered stockpile” at the site in Finningley. The Labour MP said he had been in contact with the Environment Agency (EA), which confirmed on Thursday that it had “set out a series of actions” for the site’s operator following an inspection. The landfill, located in a former quarry, is operated by Tetron Finningley Ltd, which has not previously responded when contacted for comment by the BBC.
Pitcher, who is the MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, said EA officers visited the landfill on 9 October and, after he “chased” them for their findings, they responded on Tuesday. He said the EA had told him that during the visit “approximately 1,000 tonnes of sewage sludge were observed being stored externally in an uncovered stockpile” and had “identified concerns regarding whether site activities were being undertaken in accordance with the operating techniques and management arrangements described within the approved documents”. Pitcher said the EA had given the landfill operator until 10 November to resolve the issue. The MP said he had subsequently contacted the EA again about “potential asbestos disposal at the site, along with the air quality and environmental ramifications this could bring”.
Last month, Ed Bradley, a director of the neighbouring Doncaster Moto Parc, said he had been forced to close the venue after people attending the motocross track were suffering from “headaches, nausea and generally feeling unwell” from the smells. He said he was concerned that the business may no longer be viable if it continues to remain closed. In a statement on Facebook, he said: “For months, we have raised concerns about the terrible odours coming from the neighbouring site, the effects on our staff and customers, and our inability to operate safely. “Despite those reports, the situation has continued.
“Unfortunately, while the authorities have been investigating, the financial consequences for Doncaster Moto Parc have been devastating. “We are now facing the very real possibility of losing the business altogether.” An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We expect site operators to manage odour effectively and have identified issues around odour management at this site. “Following an inspection, we have set out a series of actions that we expect the operator to comply with and will not hesitate to take further enforcement action should that be required.” Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North ‘Smells and dust’ concern over asbestos waste site
