![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_A-general-view-of-Simonswood-Industrial-Estate-near-Kirkby.jpg\")
A large mound of material on Simonswood Industrial Estate near Kirkby in March 2025(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nA Merseyside MP said the Environment Agency is considering ‘robust enforcement action’ against Windmill Services<\/p>\n
18:48, 18 Dec 2025Updated 18:48, 18 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
A large mound of material on Simonswood Industrial Estate near Kirkby in March 2025(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
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<\/a> MP Anneliese Midgley, including possible enforcement action by the Environment Agency.<\/p>\n The Liverpool ECHO<\/a> 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n One ECHO<\/a> report from 2024 involved a \u201cmysterious rotten egg smell\u201d in Kirkby, as local residents became frustrated<\/a> about the air quality issues affecting their neighbourhoods. It included testimony from dad-of-two Neil Dunne \u2013 a member of the Simonswood Action Campaign Group (SACG) \u2013 who felt trapped inside his home because the area continually smelled of \u201crotting flesh\u201d.<\/p>\n In January, the ECHO<\/a> published an update on plans for more waste to be stored on the site<\/a>, which had been refused by West Lancs Council. According to a Knowsley Council<\/a> 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\u2019s local authority.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>: \u201cUPDATE 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Environment Agency are now considering next steps, which are likely to be robust enforcement action.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n One person posted yesterday, writing: \u201cThere\u2019s three massive mounds and looks like there\u2019s diggers moving too and from each pile. The smell is horrific!! Whole house smells vile because of it.\u201d<\/p>\n This post prompted a number of comments, including: \u201cStinks today on our road (Greenham Ave) and driving up Pingwood. Someone\u2019s moving something they shouldn\u2019t have stored, smells like sewers and rotten eggs, [someone in my household] has a permanent cough since moving here last year.\u201d<\/p>\n Another person posted a picture of their windowsills covered in black dust particles, stating: \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n A member of the group replied: \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Anneliese Midgley MP is also a member of the group, and she added a further update to comments thread: \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you haven\u2019t had a letter yet, don\u2019t worry you will be invited to a future session, I would love it if you came along to share your experience. I\u2019ll keep pushing until I get the progress that residents deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n An Environment Agency spokesperson told the ECHO<\/a>: \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe sympathise with residents\u2019 concerns and encourage them to continue to report odours to our incident hotline on 0800 807060.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Simonswood](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Simonswood-Industrial-Estate-Credit-LDRS.jpg\")
Simonswood Industrial Estate(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766086698_630_0_A-general-view-of-Simonswood-Industrial-Estate-near-Kirkby.jpg\")
A large mound of material on Simonswood Industrial Estate near Kirkby in March 2025(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n