Residents living in Britain's smelliest village are breathing a sigh of relief after a landfill site was ordered to close following a legal row lasting more than a decade.

Locals living near Walleys Quarry had long complained about the stench coming from the waste site in Silverdale, Staffs.

They said fumes left a foul odour like "bad eggs" or "dirty nappies" making them ill and seriously affecting their quality of life.

More than 1,000 complaints about smells wafting into peoples' homes were made almost every month in a row which has spanned over 10 years.

Neighbours have been complaining about the stench for years (SWNS).

But yesterday (Thurs) The Environment Agency issued a Closure Notice to the quarry which requires the operator to stop accepting new waste from today (29/11).

It also orders the company to take "effective measures to prevent landfill gas emissions from affecting the local community".

Local resident Jenny Taylor, 31, a mum-of-two, said: "Everybody is over the moon because we've battled for years to reach this moment. 

"It should never have taken this long and there's still a lot of work to be done because this smell won't disappear overnight. 

"It has affected all of us one way or another and it's outrageous it wasn't dealt with sooner. Having said that, we are here now and everyone is delighted."

Local residents said they were 'over the moon' with the years (SWNS).

Lee-Bernadette Walford, of campaign group Stop the Stink, told the BBC the news was "bittersweet".

She said: "I'm absolutely elated. We've been waiting for this for years and years and years and years.

"However we have got a really long road ahead of us because they've issued the paper but that doesn't make the smell go away."

Unprecedented levels of hydrogen sulphide gas were recorded near the quarry leading to people becoming seriously unwell. 

"The Silverdale Stink" became so bad that residents were forced to tape up their doors and put bags over their windows to try to stop it getting into their homes.

People have been forced to tape up their doors due to the smell (SWNS).

People said the nasty smell was so unpleasant it burns the back of the throat while others have reported headaches, asthma attacks, stress, anxiety and sleeplessness.

The Environment Agency says normally a site like Walley's Quarry would be subject to ten inspections a year. 

Walley's Quarry has been inspected more than 180 times in four years.

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said: "Residents have been affected by the terrible odours from this site for too many years, while we have urged both the Government and the regulator to take effective action to resolve the problem permanently.

"The recently published Community Impact Study makes clear the depth of concern there is in the community about the long-term effects of emissions from this site.

"This move brings optimism to residents and, like them, we hope that this is the beginning of the end. We will be watching the situation closely."

The Environment Agency said the notice starts the process of permanently closing the site after the company was given time to put effective measures in place to manage emissions and yet failed to do so.

Walleys Quarry say they will be appealing the decision (SWNS).

Walleys Quary Ltd will now be required to permanently cap the remainder of the site and install further landfill gas management infrastructure. 

Lorries will only be allowed to enter the site to bring in materials for those purposes.

Ian Jones, Environment Agency West Midlands Area Director, said: "We have every sympathy with the local community and have worked tirelessly to resolve the problem of landfill gas emissions from the site. 

"In doing so, we have taken a robust approach to regulating Walleys Quarry Ltd. 

"Our aim has always been to bring the operator into compliance with its permit and the decision to issue a Closure Notice is not one we take lightly.

"We have given Walleys Quarry Ltd sufficient time to put in place effective measures to manage emissions and it has failed to do so."

------------

READ MORE: Dozens of new student flats to be approved in Newcastle town centre

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.