“People struggle to breathe, they’re sick, they have to live with their windows shut, and schools sometimes shut down for days”
18:01, 28 Jan 2026Updated 18:02, 28 Jan 2026
A large mound of material on Simonswood Industrial Estate near Kirkby(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
People in Kirkby are right to be furious, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, who said the ongoing environmental problems around the Simonswood industrial estate (SIE) are “unacceptable”. Dozens of residents around the surrounding area have told the Liverpool ECHO they live “holding their nose” due to a “rotten egg” and “sewage” stink which has blighted the area for years.
Numerous complaints have been submitted to the Environment Agency about the odour coming off a waste mound on the SIE. The issue is complex in terms of local authority jurisdiction as the SIE lies within the West Lancashire council area, overseen by Lancashire County Council, but the vast majority of impacted residents live in the borough of Knowsley.
When the ECHO visited the site last year, there was fly-tipping at the entrance and vast mounds of waste material stacked up and visible over the fences. The roads within, and immediately outside the entrance to the industrial estate were caked in debris which was being whipped up into clouds of dust every time a HGV passed by every few minutes.
The ECHO understands this is a point of serious concern for Knowsley Council’s environmental health teams who believe these dust clouds are travelling into residential areas and coating people’s homes. In the winter of 2021, the local authority excavated 60 truck loads of material from the highway verges around Stopgate Lane and Pingwood Lane at a cost of £55,000.
Simonswood Industrial Estate(Image: LDRS)
One of the issues around previous reports about the odour problem, was actually confirming the source of the smell and its location. However, in March last year, the ECHO revealed that waste management operators, Windmill Services Ltd, is the company which has been issued with an enforcement notice by the Environment Agency for compiling 300,000 tonnes of excess waste on its site.
At the time, the company told us it is doing everything possible to deal with the situation.
Because the business is not based in Kirkby, Knowsley Council has no direct power to intervene. Monitoring and regulation of these businesses falls either to Lancashire County Council and/or the Environment Agency, depending on the type and size of each business.
However, despite further complaints, continued smells, dust and noise, there is growing frustration at the Environment Agency’s handling of the problem, with questions raised about the effectiveness of its response. This is shared by Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley who has picked up the campaign against the “Simonswood Stink”.
Ahead of Prime Minister’s Questions at the House of Commons earlier today (Wednesday, January 28), Ms Midgley updated her constituents about the issues at the Simonswood industrial site and her consultation with local residents. Ms Midgley wrote on Facebook: “Throughout the last week constituents have been in touch about burning taking place on the Simonswood Industrial estate in the middle of the night.
“It is yet another thing that is an issue around the estate, and reflects a national problem with illegal waste dumping. This is not just an issue in Knowsley but a national scandal that needs to be dealt with. It is a completely unacceptable state of affairs, and I will do everything I can on this.
“Following constituents raising concerns, I got in touch with the Head of the Environment Agency and asked them to take immediate action. An investigation is underway into the burning activity.
“I have also been in contact with West Lancs Borough Council, and Merseyside Police to request immediate investigation of the burning taking place.
Aerial view of the Simonswood Industrial site taken in 2022(Image: Handout)
“However, action so far on the broad range of issues with Simonswood has not been satisfactory. So in this coming week I am meeting again with the responsible government minister to directly raise the issues with the estate, including the smell, the burning, the dust and the lorries.
“While scrutiny on the site has increased, including further surveys and compliance reviews, I am unhappy with the speed, visible action, and urgency that this is being dealt with.”
This post came after months of more complaints about the Simonswood Estate, and two years’ worth of reports by the ECHO which has covered the ongoing problems and the impact on Kirkby residents. People have complained of a “toxic town”, noise, dust and concerns about poor air quality and the potential for serious respiratory diseases.
Ms Midgley followed up this update at Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon, as she made an enquiry about illegal waste dumping, and also referenced the issues at the Simonswood. She asked: “In the last week, [there have been reports] on the national disgrace of out-of-control waste dumps and for years, my constituents in Kirkby have lived with one.
“People struggle to breathe, they’re sick, they have to live with their windows shut, and schools sometimes shut down for days.
“I’ve been campaigning on it with our Labour councillors, but the response from the Environment Agency has been slow and ineffective. So will the government work with me to sort this nightmare, and stop the Simonswood stink?”
Responding to Ms Midgley, and filling in for Sir Keir Starmer at PMQS, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: “I thank my honourable friend, the government will work with her.
“The situation she describes is unacceptable. People are right to be furious.
A large mound of material on Simonswood Industrial Estate near Kirkby(Image: Liverpool Echo)
“The Environment Agency are taking action to prevent further dumping, and we’re giving them more powers and resources to crack down on fly-tipping. I’ll make sure that ministers keep her updated with their efforts.”
Following up with an update post on her official Facebook page, Ms Midgley added: “People living near the Simonswood waste site have been forced to endure relentless stench and thick dust drifting into their homes.”
She added: “At Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions today, I asked the government to work with me and local leaders, and bring this nightmare to an end – once and for all. We need real enforcement, real action, and an end to the Simonswood Stink.”
The ECHO put the latest concerns about the Simonswood to the Environment Agency, which confirmed fires are not taking place at the Windmill Services site, adding: ““Any waste sites responsible for illegal burning of waste on this estate will be held to account.”
In reference to the ongoing environmental and health concerns, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We are investigating breaches of compliance at the Windmill Services Ltd site, which could result in further enforcement action. This company is required to continue to remove excess waste from site.
“Alongside increased regulatory activity at the site our officers are also carrying out regular odour monitoring in the community.”