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More than 400 West Yorkshire residents have objected to plans to keep a site producing a "putrid smell" going for another 10 years. Locals residing near a waste recycling site in

South Elmsall have spoken out about their concerns over dust, pollution, and potential threats to public health and the ecosystem. The Environment Agency (EA) has previously reprimanded

operator Minore for allegedly violating permit conditions at the site off Hacking Lane. The firm asserts that it is committed to maintaining "the highest environmental standards"

to safeguard human health, well-being, and local ecosystems. More than 400 objections have been submitted against a planning application seeking to extend the site's operation for an

additional decade. Jon Trickett, the town's MP, has thrown his support behind a campaign opposing the extension, calling on constituents to make their views known to Wakefield Council.

At a public meeting attended by district and town councillors, those against the plan expressed their worries. Organiser of the meeting, Mark Benson, said: "It's choking the life

out of me, I don't know about you guys. "The smell is putrid. There is only one word for it. "If we are going to do anything we need to act quickly and we need to act

together." Hemsworth and Normanton MP Mr Trickett said: "I am supporting residents who would like some peace and quiet after years of disruption. "I will be taking the matter

up with the relevant authorities." In a statement on social media, Mr Trickett said: "I am now going to write to the EA and the council to see what they can do to protect the

community. People are very upset about it." During June last year, Minore, trading as Mineral Processing Ltd, was slapped with a suspension notice by the EA for a catalogue of alleged

breaches of its permit. The formal warning detailed that quantities nearly fivefold above the allowed levels of materials were found stored on the property. The notice highlighted that, as

per the permit, the site was authorised to hold up to 50,000 tonnes only. Waste return information submitted by Minore spanning from 2016 to 2023 indicated the presence of an astonishing

233,772 tonnes at the facility. The EA also demanded the removal of more than 180,000 tonnes of non-inert content from the premises. The regulatory authority claimed that the breaching of

its permit had lead to several potential local environmental threats. These dangers comprised the chance of leachate (polluted liquid due to rainfall) infiltrating nearby Frickley Beck,

posing a danger to "aquatic ecosystems." The authority also identified risks involving dust and waste dispersal from the premises "harming the quality of the

environment". The official documentation also pointed out additional risks such as "offence to human senses" emanating from possible odours from the accumulated waste and

"risk of harm to human health" because of elevated methane production levels. Minore contested the notice, and a Planning Inspectorate hearing took place on January 28. The outcome

of the appeal remains undecided. Michelle Collins, councillor for South Elmsall and South Kirkby, extended her support to the residents and encouraged individuals to lodge their objections.

She told the meeting: "I have spoken to planning officers in the last few weeks and they have said they are not in a position to do any enforcement while the EA appeal is heard.

"The EA have a greater armoury of action they can take that the council don't have." GET BREAKING NEWS IN YORKSHIRE STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE Get all the latest big and breaking

Yorkshire news straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here. If you don’t like our community, you can leave any time. We also treat members to special offers, promotions, and

adverts from us and our partners. Read our privacy notice here. An EA spokesperson stated: "We are aware of the situation at the Minore facility at South Elmsall and understand the

concerns of local residents affected by odour pollution. "We sympathise with those impacted and remain committed to working with the operator to address the issue. "Affected

residents are encouraged to report odour incidents to the Environment Agency via our freephone hotline at 0800 80 70 60." A Minore spokesman said: "We prioritise the highest

environmental standards to protect human health, well-being and local eco-systems. "We have invested significant resources to protect the environment in which we operate, monitoring

water and air quality, along with odour control and litter management, to maintain a safe and healthy environment. "We work diligently to maintain compliance with environmental

regulations requirements while helping our customers across multiple sectors advance their sustainability goals and environmental initiatives." _GET ALL THE LATEST AND BREAKING NEWS IN

YORKSHIRE BY __SIGNING UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER HERE._ The company said the site, a former Victorian brickworks and ash pit, had been a “magnet for anti-social behaviour.” The spokesperson said

the land played a “vital role in sustainability” and would be transformed into “thriving wetlands and woodlands”. They said: "We re-purpose minerals into low-carbon construction

materials and biodiversity-enhancing products. “Additionally, our environmentally responsible treatment methods recycle valuable minerals from construction and demolition projects –

diverting material that would otherwise end up in landfill. “Our planning application is an essential factor to allow us to continue this transformation project and enhance the biodiversity

and create lasting benefits for the local community, which future generations will be able to enjoy.”