Residents disgusted as smell plagues their neighbourhood

People living in Apperley Bridge have said that a strange odour, that smells like a combination of compost and chemicals, has been ‘overbearing’ in recent weeks as the weather has got warmer.

And some have even said that they haven’t been able to open the windows of their house because it has been so unpleasant.

Hadrian Summers, who has lived in Apperley Bridge for three years, said: “The smell has been going on for a while, it’s a regular occurrence, but when the weather is warmer, it’s a lot more noticeable.

Hadrian Summers and his partner

“Last night, it was quite a disgusting stench, it’s a mix between chemicals and a sewage smell and it’s unpleasant and pungent, to the point where you don’t want to be sat outside, and you can’t really open your windows because it stinks your hours out.”

Residents say that the smell starts near Harrogate Road, and can still be smelt near the Woodhouse Grove playing fields and even as far as Greengates.

“A number of residents have been complaining, all the way up to near Greengates and Eccleshill so I think the smell is drifting depending on what way the wind blows,” Hadrian added.

Scott Antony Martin has lived in the area for two years Scott Anthony Martin, who has lived in the area for two years, said the smell was so bad that it made his “eyes water, like hayfever” on Tuesday night.

Scott said: “We usually can't have windows open at night because of the dirty water smell, but Tuesday's smell was so bad that I had to sleep in a different room because the smell was coming in from the stairwell in the flats as well.

“The usual nightly dirty water smell (which persists if you walk along the river during the day) is bad enough without anything extra taking place."

A Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “We believe the smell may be coming from a composting plant in the Esholt area. This is regulated by the Environment Agency and they have been advised of the issue. We understand they will be visiting the site shortly. If residents have any concerns they can contact the EA directly.” 

The T&A has contacted the Environment Agency for a comment.