Residents in Brightlingsea, a seaside town in Essex, have been complaining about a mysterious and unpleasant odour for about a year now. Despite 32 reports of bad smells on June 20 and 12 other complaints, the exact cause of the smell is still unknown. The town council has been calling on Tendring District Council to continue its investigations, which were halted in July. However, the district council said its powers were “limited” until they located the source of the smell. Meanwhile, residents have been suffering and calling for a solution to the problem.
Matt Court, Brightlingsea town councillor, submitted an “E-Petition” complaint entitled “Brightlingsea Stench” to Tendring Council, stating the problem is not a nuisance, it’s “a matter of public health, well-being, and the quality of life for every person living and working in the affected area, including the school, which has its primary playing field nearby.” He accused the district council of failing to properly deal with the problem after deciding to halt further proactive monitoring visits in July. Despite a number of investigative visits, the source of the scent remains undiscovered.
Ian Davidson, Chief Executive of Tendring Council, stated that the council was not walking away from the problem but wanted to ensure that there were no limitations in their powers before taking any action. The smelly situation has caused a fracas between councils, as the town council and the district council each have different opinions on how to resolve the issue. Councils will have to work together to locate the source of the odour and bring relief to residents, who have suffered from the smell for an extended period of time.
Matt Court believes that the recent decision to close the investigation without finding the cause of the smell is “deeply disappointing and, frankly, unacceptable.” The people affected by the stench are united, and the problem is genuine. The petition calls for both councils to “be part of the solution” and not the problem. The quality of life for the town’s residents, as well as the many visitors to its fantastic attractions, should not be undermined by this smell
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