3 hours Ago By [email protected] (Elliot Jessett)
Knowsley Council said it will continue to challenge planning applications for waste uses on the Simonswood Industrial Estate Residents in part of Merseyside have described their relief after waste plans linked to a 'hideous rotten egg smell' were denied by the local authority. The Simonswood Industrial Estate has been the subject of numerous complaints by Kirkby residents who complained about dust and dirt emanating from the site - and a smell which has 'trapped' them in their homes . A retrospective planning application to allow waste to be stored on the site has been refused for a second time.
According to a Knowsley Council report, waste has been stored at the site without permission since 2021, and retrospective permission was initially refused in October 2023, following objections from Knowsley Council , local councillors and other parties. The second application was considered on Wednesday, January 15 at Lancashire County Council’s Development Control Committee (DCC). Despite the application being recommended for approval by planning officers at Lancashire County Council, the elected members on the DCC refused to grant approval after hearing the case made by Knowsley’s representatives.
Proposals related to the processing of 'inert waste' which is mostly compromised of demolition and excavation rubble such as brick and concrete. According to a Knowsley Council report, waste has been stored at the site without permission since 2021, and retrospective permission was initially refused in October 2023, following objections from Knowsley Council, local councillors and other parties. Knowsley's local authority also acknowledged residents living in Kirkby, close to the industrial estate, are already experiencing issues as a result of the activities on the site, which is just outside the borough, in West Lancashire.
Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “Residents living close to the Simonswood Industrial Estate are already enduring long standing issues with dirt and dust caused by the storage of waste on this estate. "It’s completely unacceptable to them that this business should have been carrying out these activities for so long without the proper permissions." The ECHO reported on a 'mysterious rotten egg smell' in Kirkby numerous times last year as local residents became increasingly frustrated about the air quality issues affecting their neighbourhoods.
Our reports including testimony from Neil Dunne - a member of the Simonswood Action Campaign Group (SACG) - who felt 'trapped' inside his house because the area continually smelled of 'rotting flesh'. Mr Dunne said the air quality issue has been ongoing since 2023 and is worried about the potential impacts on his family and the wider community. Asked previously to describe the odour, he said: "It's like rotting flesh.
" Responding to the latest planning application refusal, Mr Dunne gave a statement on behalf of SACG: "Fellow residents have been seriously concerned for the wellbeing of their families and the potential negative health implications tied to that site." He added: "This is very welcome news to Kirkby residents." However, a submission to by the Environment Agency said they have carried out 12 months monitoring of air quality due to concerns about dust escaping from the sites, but said: "no dust issues have been substantiated in relation to this site.
" Nonetheless, Cllr Brennan offered reassurance to Kirkby residents that Knowsley Council will continue to challenge any planning applications for waste uses on the Simonswood Industrial Estate and work with partner organisations to ensure the day-to-day activities of the waste businesses on the estate are properly monitored and any breaches are enforced. The elected member for Shevington ward added: "We now want to see some rapid progress made to get the waste cleared from this site and for the company to adhere to the rules that are in place." “We continue to urge the relevant authorities to take every action in their power to ensure this happens very soon.
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