Campaigners Demand Action Over Persistent Penrith Factory Odour Complaints
Campaigners in Penrith are demanding that authorities "put an end to it" after the Environment Agency received hundreds of complaints in June about the long standing odour problem known locally as the "Penrith Pong", which residents say continues to affect daily life across the town.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Fresh AIR for Penrith campaign revealed that the Environment Agency received 277 odour complaints during June, compared with 67 complaints in May. The significant increase has renewed calls for stronger action to identify and eliminate the source of the smell.
Many residents believe the odour is linked to the Omega Proteins animal rendering plant on the outskirts of Penrith, which processes waste from abattoirs. However, the company's owner, Leo Group, says it has invested more than £100 million over the past decade in odour control technology and maintains there are several possible sources of the smell.
The Environment Agency said it understands the impact the odour has on people living and working in the area and continues to inspect the site regularly. It added that improvements to odour management are underway and warned it would not hesitate to take enforcement action if necessary.
Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith and Solway, recently chaired a second meeting involving the Environment Agency and Penrith Town Council to discuss the issue. He said residents deserve answers and encouraged members of the public to continue reporting incidents to help build evidence for regulators.
Campaign leader Jeff Thomson said local people have lived with the problem for far too long and want authorities and those responsible to work together to resolve it permanently. Residents have also raised concerns about the odour's impact on both their physical wellbeing and mental health, particularly during periods of hot weather when the smell is reported to become more noticeable.
Campaigners hope the recent increase in complaints and continued public pressure will lead to lasting improvements. They say the town deserves a permanent solution to a problem that has affected the community for decades.
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