Southall Residents Protest Against 'Stinky Chimney'
Smell from recycling unit is constant say neighbours
Chimney on Johnson Street Southall. Picture: Clean Air for Southall
A woman from Southall is furious with a “stinky chimney” that stops her hanging out washing to dry. A protest by neighbours was held this weekend to get the council to act on the horrific smell plaguing the area.
In March, Angela Fonso noticed a strong smell of burning plastic and wood coming from the Balfour Industrial Estate near her home. Walking by the businesses on Johnson Street, the mum of two noticed a chimney from one of the buildings, which she claims was “pumping out smoke”.
Over the past seven months, Ms Fonso claims there has been a “constant smell” of burning plastic and wood. She said, “It was noticeable during the long hot summer, the smell of the plastic was just really off the scale. We try to keep the smell out by shutting all the windows and doors.
“There are times I want to hang my washing outside, to keep economical costs down, but then I think maybe not, because outside it absolutely stinks. I’ve got no choice. I live in a flat and I’ve got to get clothes dried somehow.”
Sam’s Recycling, which has a burner on the Balfour Estate, have said they only use their incinerator once a week and have denied burning any plastic. The business has said when they have to burn material, it is only softwood from pallets given to the business with cardboard that is recycled.
It’s not just Ms Fonso’s way of life that has had to change because of the smell, the 54-year-old is concerned about how it is impacting her family’s health. She said, “It’s quite upsetting to think that young children, in particular, their respiratory systems may be badly affected. I’m an adult and whenever the smell is prevalent, I find that I suffer from nausea and headaches.
“I certainly find that it makes my throat very irritated, I feel dizzy and I can’t think straight. I think there’s an underlying anxiety that I just don’t feel well because of what I’m inhaling
“What’s particularly alarming is there is a kind of tightening in my chest, feeling as if I’m struggling to breathe at times, but my biggest concern is for younger children.”
When Ms Fonso first noticed the smell, she complained to Ealing Council, hoping it would issue a statutory nuisance abatement notice to stop or restrict the smell. But, Ms Fonso claims, that whenever an officer has turned up, they’re too late and the smell has subsided.
She said, “I feel a sense of frustration because despite complaints to the council they don’t seem to be doing anything. Often at the weekend is absolutely horrific but nobody has come in a timely manner and witnessed it for themselves.
“I think to myself, if they were to live in my home, experiencing what I experienced, nobody in their right mind would trivialise it unfortunately, you know, we’re not in a situation where we’ve got a councillor who sits next door and fully understand the impact it’s having on our lives.”
After months of no action, Ms Fonso has organised a protest with the campaign group CASH. The group gathered at the entrance of the Balfour Estate on Saturday (30 October) at 11.40am to demand that the council takes notice.
Ms Fonso said, “I live in a very deprived area, and other people will be struggling to get by, they have other priorities and they don’t have time to complain to the council and to organise a protest.
“I can’t sit by and remain silent when I feel like my life is at stake, my children’s lives and, you know, the wider community their lives are being diminished. And that makes me angry. I’ve got no choice but to protest because Ealing Council are choosing to not act upon what they’re told.”
A spokesperson from Sam’s Recycling has said, “Our business recycles cardboard and plastic, we only burn wood once a week and it does not affect the environment.
“It is only used sometimes, maybe once a week, if we have been given wooden pallets with cardboard for recycling. My business is in an open yard and it doesn’t affect any of the residents. The houses are quite far from the industrial area.”
A spokesperson from Ealing Council said: “We share the concerns of residents having to live next door to woodburning incinerators. Council officers have been in touch with local residents who have raised concerns over the use of incinerators on the Balfour Estate including visiting the site on a number of occasions.
“The control over the use of these incinerators is regulated by the Environment Agency. The council will be writing to both the Environment Agency and businesses who use these incinerators to raise residents’ concerns and to explore the best practicable outcome.
“Residents who have concerns can raise them direct through the Odour Collect App or by submitting a complaint to the Environment Agency.”
Megan Stanley - Local Democracy Reporter
November 1, 2022