Anger at tip failure

Battling builder Dave Bolan slammed bosses of a controversial landfill site at a public meeting last night .

Mr Bolan, a father of two, whose farmhouse home backs onto the High Moor tip, spearheaded angry questions from frustrated local residents about noxious odours and other problems at the Scouthead site.

He accused the site managers, Veolia Environmen- tal Services and Infinis, the gas extraction company, of failing to kill off smells.

He said: “We are just going round and round in circles. The tip has really been smelling badly again over the last two nights – exactly the same as it was this time a year ago.

“Nothing has changed at all. Veolia have put extra capping on the site — but when gas escapes it still smells just as bad, if not worse, than it did before.

“The latest measures taken by them has made no difference at all. We are still being gassed.”

In a fusillade of questions locals quizzed Environ-ment Agency experts and members of Oldham Council on issues ranging from the site’s permit to cleaning surrounding roads near the site.

John O’Sullivan, the landfill director, said that bad weather had hampered capping at the site but added: “We have now rectified that position and are working with the Environment Agency and other agencies to ensure capping operations are back on track.”

Another public meeting is scheduled for next February and residents are encouraged to report problems by calling Veolia on: 0800 048 2704 or the EA hot line: 0800 80 70 60.