A Merseyside MP said the Environment Agency is considering ‘robust enforcement action’ against Windmill Services
18:48, 18 Dec 2025Updated 18:48, 18 Dec 2025
A large mound of material on Simonswood Industrial Estate near Kirkby in March 2025(Image: Liverpool Echo)
People in Kirkby continue to suffer with the effects of a persistent “stink” emanating from a nearby industrial estate, described as a mixture between rotten eggs and an open sewer. However, a campaign to resolve the problem is being stepped up, according to Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley, including possible enforcement action by the Environment Agency.
The Liverpool ECHO has published several reports about the environmental impact of the Simonswood site, located in West Lancashire, but close to the Knowsley border. As a result, its people in Kirkby who have bore the brunt of the problems, with some saying the smell has trapped them in their homes, while others have expressed concern about the health implications, particularly for children and the elderly.
One ECHO report from 2024 involved a “mysterious rotten egg smell” in Kirkby, as local residents became frustrated about the air quality issues affecting their neighbourhoods. It included testimony from dad-of-two Neil Dunne – a member of the Simonswood Action Campaign Group (SACG) – who felt trapped inside his home because the area continually smelled of “rotting flesh”.
In January, the ECHO published an update on plans for more waste to be stored on the site, which had been refused by West Lancs Council. According to a Knowsley Council report, waste has been stored at the site without permission since 2021, and retrospective permission was initially refused in October 2023, following objections from Knowsley’s local authority.
Simonswood Industrial Estate(Image: LDRS)
Since then, Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley said some progress has been made in addressing concerns about the Simonswood industrial estate, and provided an update on Monday (December 15), posting on Facebook: “UPDATE REGARDING SIMONSWOOD STINK: Thanks to everyone who took the time to come today to my surgery on issues around Simonswood and Windmill Services in this terrible weather.
“It is important your issues are heard first hand. Thanks to Labour councillors Tommy Rowe & Tony Brennan for being there along with Environment Agency. With regard to Windmill Services, following the recent enforcement notice, the compliance of Windmill Services has been assessed.
“The Environment Agency are now considering next steps, which are likely to be robust enforcement action.”
Kirkby residents have set up a Facebook group for people to record their experiences, and share their concerns about the air quality issues around the Simonswood Industrial and the surrounding areas. There have been several posts published this week, all describing ongoing problems with unpleasant odours and dust residue coating their windowsills.
One person posted yesterday, writing: “There’s three massive mounds and looks like there’s diggers moving too and from each pile. The smell is horrific!! Whole house smells vile because of it.”
This post prompted a number of comments, including: “Stinks today on our road (Greenham Ave) and driving up Pingwood. Someone’s moving something they shouldn’t have stored, smells like sewers and rotten eggs, [someone in my household] has a permanent cough since moving here last year.”
Another person posted a picture of their windowsills covered in black dust particles, stating: “This keeps happening when my windows have been opened. I am sick to death of wiping it. Should be able to open the windows without stench and dust seeping in.”
A member of the group replied: “I am fed up wiping my windowsills and porch every day. My husband had to get his car cleaned yesterday, was full of dust and this morning full of dust again, the whole garden and path is just covered in it. Just fed up with it now.”
A large mound of material on Simonswood Industrial Estate near Kirkby in March 2025(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Anneliese Midgley MP is also a member of the group, and she added a further update to comments thread: “The government has now asked the Environment Agency to hold resident surgeries. These are being organised street by street so everyone gets the chance to attend.
“If you haven’t had a letter yet, don’t worry you will be invited to a future session, I would love it if you came along to share your experience. I’ll keep pushing until I get the progress that residents deserve.”
An Environment Agency spokesperson told the ECHO: “We carry out regular site inspections to monitor waste removal and the actions taken to reduce environmental impact at this site and have taken regulatory action, including the use of a suspension notice and multiple enforcement notices to remove waste.
“We sympathise with residents’ concerns and encourage them to continue to report odours to our incident hotline on 0800 807060.”
The ECHO understands the Environment Agency is continuing to monitor the activities on the Windmill Services site, and the deadline for the latest enforcement notice has now passed. The EA are now considering further action.
The ECHO approached Windmill Services for comment.