For far too long, many of us residents of Calne have been forced to endure the “Calne Pong.” It is true that deeply unpleasant odour has affected the town for many years, but since February 2025 it has worsened significantly in both frequency and intensity. What were once a handful of incidents each year have now escalated into the repeated episodes occurring several times a day, often continuing uninterrupted for days at a time, that we have come to fear.
We all know that the smell makes it difficult to enjoy open windows, outdoor spaces, or simply feel comfortable in our own homes. It affects our quality of life, wellbeing, and our basic right to breathe clean, fresh air. Recent occurrences have shown that the problem remains unresolved and, alarmingly, appears to be deteriorating rather than improving.
Hills Waste Solutions will quickly point out that statements from the Environment Agency state that there is no conclusive evidence that the Lower Compton Landfill is the sole source of the odour. While it may be true that several potential odour sources exist, this explanation does little to reflect our lived experience or to address the scale and persistence of the problem we are facing.
The reality is that the Environment Agency has identified significant shortcomings in the way the Lower Compton Landfill has been managed. As the regulator, the Agency has required Hills to make corrections to their operations, which strongly implies that the site was not being managed in accordance with the conditions of its environmental permit. This raises serious concerns that the landfill may have been operating outside licence requirements, potentially for an extended period, and that these failures have contributed directly to the ongoing odour issues experienced by us residents.
Given the duration of the problem, the documented shortcomings in landfill management, and the ongoing impact on our daily lives, it is no longer acceptable to treat this as a temporary nuisance or an issue that can be managed indefinitely through minor operational changes. The situation has reached a point where more decisive action is required.
Calne deserves better than years of disruption, uncertainty, and broken assurances. The time for half-measures has passed. What is needed now is a clear, final resolution that puts the health, wellbeing, and dignity of residents first.
I am therefore calling on the Environment Agency and Hills Waste Solutions to finally take real responsibility for this issue and bring it to a permanent conclusion. It is time to close and seal off Lower Compton Landfill site once and for all, so that Calne residents can finally enjoy a safe, healthy environment and breathe clean air without fear of recurring odour events.
I wonder how many Calne Councillors will support my call to close the Landfill Down?