ENVIRONMENT bosses have categorically ruled out a landfill site as the source of the Romsey Pong – claiming the site is actually emitting a ‘sea breeze’ fragrance.

The claim was made after a local resident carried out his own detective work around the Viridor's Squabb Wood landfill site, which locals suspect to be the cause of the odour.

John Sillence believes he had tracked down the source of the mystery pong after taking a series of pictures and documenting the smells coming from around the perimeter of the site at Shootash.

The Environment Agency has been left baffled by the source of the stench and its experts say they have been unable to detect any signs of the smell at the Squabb Wood landfill site despite regular monitoring.

However, Mr Sillence says he believes the landfill site is responsible – a view supported by Test Valley Borough Council. John said; “I became lightheaded after walking by the landfill site.

There were a lot of gasses coming from it. It was horrible and smelt like a cross between burning rubber and sulphur,” said 54-year-old John who took around 60 photos of the site through holes in the perimeter fence.

He added: “The pong was horrendous and it has to be this smell that has been affecting Romsey. There is a lot of rubbish blowing about up there and I saw some green slimy stuff bubbling up from the ground with pipes in it. I did find a stream that runs out of the site into Squabb Wood and it wasn't clear water.”

But an Environment Agency spokesman dismissed John’s claims.

He said: “The mist coming out of the pipe along the boundary fence is the odour suppression measures that the site is taking. It is a fine mist that is sprayed 24 hours a day and we can ascertain that it is not the cause of the odour issues in Romsey. In fact, the mist being sprayed from the pipe has a sea breeze fragrance.”

Officials at Test Valley Borough Council say they are “satisfied that the nuisance smell is coming from within Viridor's premises”

and officers served an abatement notice on March 27 that instructs the company to abate the smell within three months.

Daily Echo:

Romsey's borough and county councillor Mark Cooper is also pointing the finger of blame at the landfill site.

Councillor Cooper said: “The matter must be treated with urgency as there is a very real impact on the quality of life of many Romsey residents.”

However, Viridor is adamant that it is not responsible for the offensive stink.

A spokesperson said they would continue to work with the EA but that their own investigations had concluded the landfill was not the source: “As common at landfill sites, deodorisers are located around the perimeter of the operational site and have been in use for several years at Squabb Wood.”