Flintshire Council update on soggy mop smell in Deeside

The issue has been ongoing for the last year, and there have been a recent rise in the number of people reporting the odour on a Facebook group set up to help people report the stink - which has several hundred members. 

The smell, likened to a damp mop, has affected residents and businesses across the area - who have raised concerns over any potential impacts on their health, as well as being forced to put up with the foul smell.

In October last year, Flintshire Council said a potential source of the smell had been identified as the wastewater treatment facility in Queensferry that is managed by Welsh Water.

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Chief officer for planning, environment and economy, Andrew Farrow, said: “Flintshire County Council has been working alongside an independent specialist over the last 12 month to actively investigate the source of the odour in the Sandycroft/Queensferry area. 

“Odour investigations are very complex and tend to be lengthy as odour is very difficult to measure and quantify. However, I would like to reassure residents that we are taking this issue very seriously and are working hard to resolve it.

“This week we attended an on-site multi-agency meeting alongside partners from National Resources Wales and Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water and will be able to provide a further update in due course."

He added: “Thank you to residents who continue to report the time, date and intensity of the odour when it affects their area. This information plays a key part in our investigation and can be reported to us via ppadmin@flintshire.gov.uk."