People living in a village near York say they are having to keep their windows closed at home due to a mystery stench that has plagued them for weeks. It is unclear what is causing the stink in Bishopthorpe, but a number of residents have suggested it could be farming activity or a nearby sewage treatment works. "It's a real strong, horrid smell that you can't escape," said Sarah Lewis. Fellow villager Jude Hanson added: "It smells like sewage, like sticking your head in a toilet." Yorkshire Water said it could not confirm if its sewage plant at neighbouring Naburn was the source of the odour, but it was temporarily changing some of its operations "as a precautionary measure". The village is surrounded by agricultural land and is also near Yorkshire Water's Naburn Wastewater Treatment Works and Sludge Conditioning Site. Several residents said they thought the stench had got worse during the recent period of hot weather and had complained to both the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water. "My little one's bedroom was 28 degrees the other night and I just couldn't cool it down with fans and you can't have the windows open because the smell comes in and it's rancid and makes you feel sick," said 37-year-old Mrs Lewis. "I'd say the last three years it's been particularly bad and it's been getting worse and worse and this year it's been the worst it's been." Bridget Lowe, 70, who has lived in the village for 10 years, added: "There were a couple of evenings when it was really hot when the smell was all through the house and it was nauseating." Ms Hanson, 56, who lives close to the river, said: "There's an overwhelming smell to the extent that we've actually put candles in the house to try and get rid of it. "At the weekend my daughter was visiting and she was going 'this is horrible, I've got friends coming, I'm so embarrassed and it smells disgusting'". The Environment Agency urged anyone who "notices any unusual smells or odours that concern them" to report them. "Our team takes these reports seriously and will investigate to ensure compliance with environmental regulations," a spokesperson said. Listen to highlights fromNorth Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latestepisode of Look North.
Villagers keeping windows closed after mystery stench lingers for weeks
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Residents of Bishopthorpe Struggle with Persistent Unpleasant Odor"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Residents of Bishopthorpe, a village near York, have been grappling with a persistent and unpleasant odor that has forced many to keep their windows closed for weeks. The source of the stench remains unidentified, but locals have speculated that it could be linked to agricultural activities or emissions from the nearby Naburn Wastewater Treatment Works. Sarah Lewis, a resident, described the smell as "a real strong, horrid smell that you can't escape," while another villager, Jude Hanson, likened it to the odor of sewage. In response to the complaints, Yorkshire Water stated that they could not confirm whether their sewage plant was responsible for the smell, but they were temporarily adjusting some operations as a precautionary measure. The village's proximity to agricultural land and the treatment works has raised concerns among residents, especially during the recent hot weather, which they believe has exacerbated the issue.
The discomfort caused by the odor has significantly affected the daily lives of Bishopthorpe's residents. Many have reported that the smell has intensified over the past three years, with this summer being particularly unbearable. Mrs. Lewis mentioned that her child's bedroom reached 28 degrees, making it impossible to cool down without opening the windows, which allowed the rancid smell to permeate their home. Bridget Lowe, another long-term resident, echoed these sentiments, recalling evenings when the smell invaded her house, leaving her feeling nauseated. The situation has led some residents to resort to lighting candles in an effort to mask the odor. The Environment Agency has urged anyone noticing unusual smells to report them, assuring the community that they take such reports seriously and will investigate to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. This ongoing situation highlights the challenges faced by rural communities in managing environmental issues and the importance of swift action from relevant authorities.
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