Fleetwood residents say they have reached breaking point over foul odours and worsening conditions at the Jameson Road landfill, operated by Transwaste. This weekend, members of a local action group “Action Against Jameson Road Landfill” Jess Brown and Allison Rowe have been investigating fresh claims of breaches of the license conditions for the site.

Today, locals from the group visiting the site reported a massive pile of sand and inert material mixed with waste left uncovered, attracting thousands of seagulls. The birds were seen feasting openly on the exposed cell while site workers continued to push material around with heavy machinery, attempting to compress the waste.

Community Anger

Residents describe the situation as “madness,” with odours drifting across Fleetwood and gulls spreading into surrounding streets. Complaints have been mounting for months, with locals insisting the operator is failing to meet its obligations.
Under Environment Agency permit conditions, landfill operators must:

• Control odours and minimise nuisance to nearby communities.
• Cover active waste cells promptly to prevent litter, vermin, and bird attraction.
• Monitor emissions and respond to complaints.

Campaigners argue that the sight of thousands of gulls feeding on uncovered waste is clear evidence of non‑compliance.

Environmental and Health Risks

Experts warn that gulls feeding at landfill sites can spread pollutants and pathogens far beyond the site boundary.

• Droppings contribute nitrogen and phosphorus to local water bodies, degrading water quality.
• Gulls are known carriers of salmonella and E. coli, posing risks to human health.
• Their movement disperses plastics and litter into urban areas, farmland, and coastal habitats.

Noise, property damage, and the sheer scale of gull activity add to the frustration of residents who say Fleetwood is being blighted by mismanagement.

Calls for Enforcement

The Environment Agency has powers to enforce compliance, including suspending operations if conditions are breached. Campaigners are urging regulators to act decisively, arguing that the community should not be left to endure odour nuisance and environmental hazards.
For now, the sight of thousands of gulls circling above an exposed waste cell has become a stark symbol of local anger – and a reminder of the urgent need for tighter controls at Fleetwood’s landfill

Regulatory Failures and National Criticism

The Environment Agency has long been aware of problems at the Jameson Road landfill. In recent years it has issued enforcement notices, suspended operations, and monitored odour emissions after receiving thousands of complaints from Fleetwood residents. Yet locals argue enforcement has been reactive and slow, allowing nuisance and environmental hazards to persist.

This frustration is echoed nationally. The Agency has faced criticism for weak enforcement at other landfill sites across the UK, with judicial reviews and parliamentary reports highlighting failures to act decisively against operators causing harm. A House of Lords committee recently described the EA’s response to serious waste crime as “demonstrably inadequate,” calling for an independent review of its enforcement powers.

For Fleetwood, the sight of thousands of gulls feeding on uncovered waste is not just a local nuisance but part of a wider pattern: communities left to endure odour, noise, and health risks while regulators issue notices but stop short of decisive penalties. Campaigners say the time has come for stronger action, not just paperwork, to protect residents and restore confidence in environmental oversight.

What can local residents do?

Join the local group and connect with other locals – “Action Against Jameson Road Landfill”

Keep a diary of any odours and report them to the Environment Agency 0800 80 70 60

Write a letter to your local MP asking them to address the issues local residents are facing.

Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood

Local MP Lorraine Beavers has been one of the most vocal critics of the Jameson Road landfill. She has repeatedly warned that the stench is damaging Fleetwood’s economy, harming residents’ health, and even spoiling major community events such as Tram Sunday. Over the past year she has joined protests outside the site, backed residents reporting headaches and breathing difficulties, and launched a petition calling on the Environment Agency to revoke Transwaste’s permit until the landfill is properly capped. Beavers has argued the site “should never have been allowed to reopen,” and continues to press regulators for stronger action to protect Fleetwood from what she describes as an unacceptable environmental burden.