So here we are, it’s drawing to the end of the Easter Weekend, and for once the sun is shining. The forecast for the week is looking sunny and warm so it’s just the opportunity for some of us to get out and about in our own gardens or go for walks, between working and other things we must do. But we can’t, because as soon as you open the door, you get hit square in the face with that sulphurous, rotten egg smell, being caused by the landfill gas Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S). This is the gas whose smell has been plaguing parts of Calne, and making many of us sick, since February 2025.
Whilst it is true that H2S smells in very small quantities, the gas itself is toxic, and to be causing people to be sick, it must be being released in quantities that are harmful to our health.
No one in any position of power or knowledge can tell us exactly how much H2S is being released, or what the long term, accumulative effects on everyone it may be having. But it is clear, that the immediate short-term effects on us are that people are being made to fill sick, are complaining of it giving them headaches and some complaining of worse symptoms for those with existing respiratory conditions.
So, I will continue to report each occurrence of the smell I experience, and that is every time I go out or open the door during my normal day and smell it. So, it is likely to be several times a day from me. I will also continue to call on our MP, and others to join my call to close the landfill and seal it off, once and for all. For information, the landfill is just one of several licenced activities that go on at the site, which includes a Quarry, the Household Recycling Centre, and their Materials Recovery Facility, which should remain open.
I am going to try and use my garden in the next few days when the sun is out and shining, as long as the smell allows.
Thank you so much for your post agree with virtually all of it and so wish the relevant bodies took it seriously however I would just mention from little knowledge of the situation that closing the site would not solve the problem as the gas is produced for decades after it is deposited . Someone needs to get to grips with the situation and deal with it properly. Ourhouse prices will go down but the council still quite happy to out the Council Tax up. Us residents should get some sort of compensation due to the months of having to suffer and making us ill.
Continually reporting having to use our time and nothing being done.