New MPs have written to the Environment Agency demanding action to tackle the foul smell impacting villages in County Durham.

Alan Strickland (Labour MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor) and Lola McEvoy (Labour MP for Darlington) have written a joint letter after receiving hundreds of complaints from constituents.

Residents in Newton Aycliffe and Brafferton have been reporting a "noxious stench" coming from the Newton Aycliffe Quarry Landfill site for nearly a year.

(Image: Northern Echo)

None of the work at the Ashcourt Group owned site has stopped the smell.

Some of the locals have suffered with rashes, sore eyes and coughs that don't go away.

The Environment Agency has installed a permanent air quality monitoring station but the initial analysis has not been released yet. 

Both MPs are calling for four steps to be taken which will ensure progress is made.

  1. Provide a briefing to us on the steps taken at the site, what impact has been achieved so far and what further action will be taken.
  2. Set out the findings of air quality monitoring undertaken by the Environment Agency and assessments undertaken by the UK Health Security Agency.
  3. Join us on a site visit with officials from the public sector bodies involved.
  4. Work with us to organise a public meeting, where Environment Agency officials can update local residents and take questions. We will chair the meeting and ensure it’s a constructive forum.

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You can read the full text of their joint letter here:

The letter says: "We’re writing as newly elected Members of Parliament to request an urgent update on the situation at the Aycliffe Quarry Landfill Site.

"Concerns about the foul smell coming from the site have been raised with us by our constituents in Aycliffe Village, Brafferton, North Darlington and the surrounding areas.

"There is significant frustration at the ongoing nuisance caused and concerns about the potential health risks of the gases being emitted.

"We’re aware that the Environment Agency has taken a number of steps to investigate the issue, install monitoring equipment and ask the operator to undertake mitigation works.

"We also welcome the steps you have taken to share air quality monitoring results with the UK Health Security Agency, to ensure potential public health risk is being assessed.

"Despite these efforts, the problem remains and we continue to receive complaints from concerned residents."