COMPLAINTS continue to be made about a "rotten egg smell" in a Wrexham village, a year on from when they first started. 

Since October 2023, the Hafod landfill site in Johnstown has been subject of a number of complaints from residents due to an ongoing rotten egg smell. 

Complaints have been made to Natural Resources Wales (NRW), as well as the site operator Enovert, by local councillor David A Bithell and Ken Skates MS.  

A statutory notice was issued on December 21, 2023 by NRW to Enovert. Despite the notice being issued late last year, issues persist in Johnstown, with residents still complaining about the ongoing smell they're facing on a daily basis.

The homes and environment scrutiny committee at Wrexham Council agreed to debate the management of the site. That meeting will take place on October 16, which will mark a whole year since issues were first reported.

Cllr Bithell, who represents Pant and Johnstown ward says he is still get complaints about the odour a year on.

Cllr Bithell said: "I am pleased that Wrexham Councils scrutiny committee agreed to debate the Hafod Landfill site in October following my submission of a topic request.

"Over the past ten months, Hafod Landfill site has been subject of over 300 complaints to NRW over odour and rotten egg smells, and to this day it continues.

"A statutory notice was issued under the environmental permitting regulations 2016, on 21st December 2023 by NRW to the operator Enovert who operate the site. NRW considered that conditions including leachate levels, landfill gas and odour were being contravened.

"The public will also recall the fire on site back in May 2020 where the company were issued with a warning.

"I continue to receive daily complaints on dust, health issues and odour and I ask that you continue to report these to the relevant public bodies. NRW are the regulatory body for the landfill site in Wales.

"I am also extremely disappointed that Enovert will not be attending the scrutiny meeting after agreeing to attend.

"Public bodies need to recognise the significant impact this has on people's daily lives. I have met the site CEO of Enovert and NRW several times who all say they are committed to being good neighbours and want to work together. Despite several assurances we are continuing to have odour from the site."

Mark Silvester, CEO of Enovert said: "Enovert has contacted Wrexham’s Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee several times over the past few months to request clarity on the purpose of the meeting and intended outcomes. We’ve still not been provided with this information. The purpose of the meeting should be clearly communicated to any external bodies that are invited to attend internal scrutiny committee meetings held by the authority. 

"Enovert wrote again to the Committee on 30th September requesting details of the meeting's purpose in order to properly prepare for our attendance, and communicated that as things stand, we felt unable to attend given the lack of such information.

"The chair of the Committee has written back asking us to reconsider our attendance subject to provision of further details from the Committee, which we have been advised will be made available soon. 

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"In the meantime, we have offered to address any questions and concerns arising from the Homes & Environment Scrutiny Committee’s meeting, local Councillors, or relevant authorities including Natural Resources Wales who regulate the site."

James McClymont, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Team Leader for Industry & Waste Regulation in North Wales, said: "We fully understand the level of concern in the local community regarding odour issues in Johnstown, and we want to reassure people that we are taking this matter seriously.

"NRW officers are continuing to ensure that the Site Operator at the Johnstown landfill site complies with the requirements of their Environmental Permit. They are also working to enhance the utilisation of landfill gas and reduce the potential for odours. Additionally, we are reviewing the Site Operator’s management procedures, and they have since provided us with an updated action plan.

"We continue to encourage residents to report any odours believed to be coming from the landfill to NRW on 0300 065 3000 or via the 'Report It' form on our website."