Long-suffering Leamington residents welcome measures to help block nauseating odours - but are frustrated they might take months to implement

With temperatures reaching the mid-30s, fed-up residents and the local MP have once again met with the bosses of a business which they hold responsible for the foul smells.

As we have continuously been reporting, the odours and flies have been causing health issues across parts of Leamington, Warwick, Whitnash, Heathcote and Warwick Gates. And these have only been exacerbated during the heatwaves.

RAPID (Residents Against Pollution and Industrial Damage) - a campaign group set up by local residents - spent an hour-and-a-half with senior representatives from Amcor (formerly Berry Circular Polymers) in Tachbrook Road to discuss the ongoing issues. The meeting was set up by Matt Western and his team - and the MP paid his own visit to the site in April to follow up on his previous visit in 2023.

"The clearest message from the meeting was that Amcor repeatedly stated there is a plan in place to fix odour issues coming from their wet wastewater tank," said RAPID.

"We noted that Amcor were careful in how they described the relationship between site emissions and odours experienced by residents. While they acknowledged the issue, they stopped short of formally accepting responsibility in the terms some residents may have expected. Although odours formed the majority of the discussion, Amcor did not accept responsibility for the fly issues that many residents continue to report."

Amcor said it has outlined a "major programme of works designed to reduce and ultimately eliminate odour emissions that the site produces".

This includes covering wastewater and water tanks and extracting emissions through treatment systems, as well as installing monitoring and treatment on site emission stacks. A six-month emissions testing programme started in March and will continue until October 2026.

But RAPID said it will be months before any benefits are felt - and initial installation phases could take place in July/August next year.

The group said: "While the investment and commitment to tackle the odour issue is welcome, our biggest concern remains the length of time residents may have to wait before seeing the full benefits of these works.

"Amcor has agreed to provide a detailed timeline which we will review carefully.

"We will continue to hold Amcor to account and where possible challenge any unnecessary delays and share updates whenever we feel there is meaningful progress or information residents should be aware of."

RAPID concluded: "Amcor has accepted there is an issue in regard to odours (but not flies) and taken in good faith are making plans to fix odours from the wastewater tank.

"The proposed programme appears lengthy and given how long us residents have already been experiencing these issues, it is clear you will all be, like us, massively disappointed by the timescales currently being discussed."

"We’d also like to reiterate a point raised by several members of the group: one of the most effective ways residents can help at the moment is by continuing to report odour incidents to the Environment Agency.

These reports remain important as they provide the EA with valuable evidence and help ensure Amcor continues to be held to account."

After his visit to the site in April, Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington, said: "I have been very sceptical for years about how this issue is being addressed. My first impressions, walking round the factory and site were that significant improvements have been made it was dramatically different to how it was when I visited back in 2023.

"Berry was taken over by Amcor about a year ago. They have a new management team in place where virtually all the personnel have changed, and I get the impression that the new company is determined to address the issues.

"On flies, there was a marked reduction. I saw with my own eyes a dramatic improvement within the site where there were barely any. Skips of waste plastics used to be left in the open air with a loose tarpaulin covering them. They have now constructed a new building, and those skips are fully enclosed. I think this is an important improvement.

"In regard to the odour, I was very direct with the company on this. I smelt the odour as I drove up to the site and it remains deeply unpleasant. On the walkabout, I smelt a strong odour near one of the water tanks and pointed this out. They told me they are undergoing substantial odour monitoring and using a third-party company (to both them and the Environment Agency) to undertake this. They assured me that if a problem is identified, they will invest what is needed to resolve it."

As with the RAPID, Amcor listed a number of measures that it hopes to implement. Mr Western said the enclosure of the waste tanks, which many believe are causing most of the horrific smells, gave him the most hope.

"The smell was very pungent in this area when I visited, and I hope this will mean we see some real improvement," he added.

"While these steps are not immediate nor a guaranteed silver bullet, I do hope they are useful in establishing some better communication with you as residents, who have been left without proper updates for too long."

Amcor said: "Amcor takes the concerns raised by local residents very seriously. Since acquiring the Leamington Spa facility, we have prioritised open and transparent engagement with community representatives and worked closely with the Environment Agency to ensure the site operates in accordance with all applicable environmental requirements.

“Following the Environment Agency's permit review process last year, we undertook a comprehensive review of our Effluent Treatment Plant and completed a programme of improvement works. In line with the Environment Agency's requirements, we have also been carrying out additional air quality and odour monitoring.

“The monitoring programme will help determine whether any further improvements are necessary. Should additional measures be identified, they will be developed and implemented by 30 June 2027 in accordance with the timescales set out in our new Environmental Permit.

“Amcor is determined to continue working closely with local representatives and the Agency to ensure that any required solutions are durable and satisfactory to all parties.”