Didcot Town Council has warned anyone feeling unwell due to an unwanted "disgusting" smell from a landfill site to "seek medical advice immediately".

Following months of odour complaints, the FCC Environment penned an open letter to homeowners last month after a rise in complaints of a smell coming from the landfill near Sutton Courtenay.

The smell is coming from ponds of waste liquid, known as leachate, in the operational area of the landfill site which needs to be removed as a “priority”, said the Environment Agency previously classifying it as a “significant odour incident”.

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The Environment Agency said at the beginning of July it “could take several months” until the odour is controlled.

Leader of Didcot Town Council, Chris Jennings said: “Didcot Town Council is aware of the smell currently affecting many residents across Didcot and surrounding parishes.

“The smell is caused by groundwater leaching into the landfill site to the north of the town.

“Town councillors have been in contact with those agencies involved and also the Didcot and Wantage MP.

“Representations have been made to the site owners FCC and also the environment agency by Olly Glover MP who is also a Didcot town councillor.

“Mr Glover has visited the site along with Andrew Tinsley, district councillor for Ladygrove.

“The problem cause has been identified and appropriate works to remove the leachate pool instructed. The problem will of course be worse in warm weather.

“Any residents concerned should in first instance report any odours to the 24/7 Environment Agency freephone pollution hotline on 0800 807060 the concerns will then be reported anonymously to the site owners FCC.

“If you or any member of your family feel unwell as a result of the odours then please seek medical advice immediately.”

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Hannah Wade, who lives in the town, said she was woken up by the odour.

She said: “It's absolutely disgusting.

“We have been complaining to the Environment Agency for months.”

In May, 130 reports were made about an odour coming from the site with more than over 100 complaints received by the Environment Agency in June.

A statement from FCC Environment said: "Throughout the works, the leachate has been contained within the site without leakage, and the majority of the liquid has now been removed from site for treatment and disposal, with the remaining amount to be removed over the next few days."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We expect FCC to have completed all the remedial work by end of August. Site inspections and odour surveys will continue to ensure that the issue has been resolved.

“Residents should continue to report odour from the site to our 24/7 freephone pollution hotline on 0800 807060.”

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About the author

Rob is a digital reporter who covers a wide range of topics.

He joined the Oxford Mail in February 2023 having previously been at sister paper The Bucks Free Press for two years. 

Rob completed a Sports Journalism degree before earning his NCTJ Diploma at Darlington College and can be found on X at @RobertFolker.