Fly infestation needs to be resolved - MP

An MP has called for a public meeting with environment bosses to resolve a fly infestation and odour issue that has affected residents for more than two years.

Matt Western, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, first met constituents about the problem in September 2023, which many say originates from a recycling plant regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) near Leamington Spa.

Almost three years later, Western described himself as "beyond frustrated" that the issue persisted.

The recycling company and the EA said they were yet to find a substantial link between the odour and any site.

People living in Heathcote and Whitnash, to the south of Leamington, have blamed the issues on a nearby recycling plant owned by Amcor, formerly known as Berry Circular Polymers.

Western recently raised their concerns in parliament with Mary Creagh, a junior secretary in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

He said residents could not be "continuously dismissed" when there was "very obviously a problem" and added he was applying for an adjournment debate on the matter.

Local residents have formed a Facebook group, Residents Against Pollution and Industrial Damage (RAPID), to encourage reports of flies and foul smells.

A spokesperson said: "I don't know what our confidence levels are like, however I can say we are not giving up".

They added Western had represented "thousands of residents" in the Commons and it was "a great way to get the message across".

"It's about time the EA and the government looked at this," they added.

An EA spokesperson said sites in the Leamington Spa area were "regularly inspected" and "operators made improvements where they were required".

"We are committed to ensuring that people and the environment are protected," they added.

Amcor said its Leamington Spa site was "compliant with the EA" and that it worked closely with the agency to make improvements.

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