Factory blamed for 'pong' breached permit terms

A factory blamed for a "nausea-inducing pong" breached or failed to comply with the terms of its environmental permit 40 times in the last five years.

The breaches by Omega Proteins, on the outskirts of Penrith, were revealed through Freedom of Information requests submitted to the Environment Agency (EA).

MP for Penrith and Solway, Markus Campbell-Savours said the "pong" was one of the biggest concerns raised by constituents since he was elected in July.

Omega Proteins said there were "various sources" for the odours and it had installed "multiple odour abatement technologies" at its factory.

The animal rendering plant said non-compliance with regulations could range from "minor compliance issues" to serious permit breaches.

"The number of non-compliances has decreased significantly every year from 2019 to 2023, with only four recorded in 2023 and none recorded this year," the company said.

It added that breaches ranged from a mid-category issue related to the failure of an oxidiser in 2020, to a minor one relating to a small spillage and there were no non-compliances of the most serious category.

Campbell-Savours said there had been a recent rise in the number of complaints.

"It’s quite clear that it has been a difficult summer," he said.

"The first thing I want is for those responsible and the Environment Agency to tell us what has gone wrong this summer and why it has been so bad."

In 2023 there were 1,367 complaints about foul-smelling odours and so far this year there have been 845, the EA said.

These were in relation to the whole of the Penrith area and not just the factory.

Omega Proteins said this was the total number of complaints and they had not all been substantiated by the EA.

Jeff Thomson, who runs the Fresh Air for Penrith campaign, said when the smell was at its worst, people often reported feeling nauseous.

"The Environment Agency goes to businesses and carries out inspections," he said.

"So it holds the key to finding the source and bringing it to an end."

The EA said following an increase in reports in August, it inspected the factory twice, but did not find that it had breached its environmental permit.

The agency added: "We undertake regular site inspections which include auditing gas emission controls.

"There is more work to be done by the operator and we are in discussion with site management on managing odours."

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