A motion, calling on Mid Ulster District Council to write to the Chief Executive of the NI Environment Agency (NIEA), to ask him to meet residents affected by a “foul smell” allegedly linked to a compost factory, enjoyed unanimous support on Thursday (November 27).
Last year, the company Northway Mushrooms went into administration, and the operators of the site are now Sawgrass Substrates Ltd (SSL), their site being on the Aghnagar Road, in the townland of Killeeshil.
The motion, tabled by Independent councillor, Kevin McElvogue (Clogher Valley DEA), was worded as follows: “This Council notes the ongoing distress caused by the foul smell in the Killeeshil area.
“This Council resolves to write to David Reid, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, asking him to meet with the residents to bring about a speedy resolution to the crisis.”
Speaking at last Thursday’s (November 27) Council meeting of the local authority, Councillor McElvogue stated: “For more than six years, families in the Killeeshil community have been affected almost daily by the strong sickening odour coming from Sawgrass factory on the Aghnagar Road.
“This is not a minor inconvenience. It affects people most days, and often for long periods.
“Because of the smell, many residents cannot open their windows, even on warm days. People cannot sit outside, enjoy their gardens, or let their children play outdoors.
“Some families describe feeling trapped in their own homes. This odour is also impacting the local primary school, St. Mary’s [PS, Cabragh].
“Teachers have had to close classroom windows, because the smell is so overpowering.
“The school has invested in a new outdoor sensory garden, but on many days it cannot be used because of the odour. It’s too overwhelming for children and staff. This is completely unacceptable.
“Across the community, the odour is causing widespread disruption. Children have been sick during football training and matches.
“Sessions at Killeeshil GAC have been cancelled or cut short. Community events have been ruined. Visitors regularly comment on the strength of the smell.
“People’s mental health is suffering. Stress, frustration, and the feeling of being ignored are becoming part of daily life.
“There is also residents with asthma, respiratory conditions, and sensory needs, who are especially vulnerable. Many report headaches, nausea, and breathing difficulties when the smell is present. There are very real health concerns.
“To date, the community has submitted over 1,200 complaints to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and to Mid Ulster District Council.
“Council officers have attended, smelled the odour, and recorded it. Yet, no enforcement action has ever been taken, and the community wants to know why.
“Part of the problem is that NIEA and the Council keep passing responsibility back and forth.
“NIEA have officially washed their hands of the issue, stating that it is for the Council to deal with.
“It is time for both NIEA and Mid Ulster District Council to work together, take this seriously and use the powers available to them.
“Our community cannot be left in limbo, while agencies argue over who is responsible.
“Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, the Council can fight this as a nuisance, and issue an abatement notice when the odour is verified.
“The community isn’t asking for anything unreasonable. I am asking the Council and NIEA to step up, work together, and take the appropriate action permitted by law.
“If the nuisance continues, the Council can enforce the notice, prosecute and ask a court to stop operations until the nuisance is fixed.
“The message is simple, monitoring without action is pointless. If you smell it, enforce it.
“Residents, children, and the school deserve clean air and dignity in their own community.”
The motion was seconded by Councillor Barry Monteith (Independent, Dungannon DEA).
Councillor Monteith stated: “Anybody who’s up through that part of the country will say it’s absolutely abhorrent, and I was glad to support the residents when they had their protest outside this building not that long ago.
“These folks have been very patient. This needs to be dealt with now.”
Councillor Gael Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Clogher Valley DEA) expressed strong support for the motion, commenting: “Sinn Féin is happy to support this motion. No community, whether it is Cabragh, Killeeshil or Granville, or any other community, should be subjected to continuous daily odours emanating from industrial plants, or processes making life in these areas unbearable on an almost daily basis.”
Councillor Meta Graham (Ulster Unionist Party, Clogher Valley DEA) remarked that years of campaigning had been to no avail to date: “The problem at Cabragh and Killeeshil has been going on for far too long, and as councillors for Clogher Valley DEA, we have all tried to help.
“We have met the residents. We have met Northway [and then] Sawgrass. We have met agencies and it just seems to get pushed from pillar to post.
“It’s not an imaginary problem, we have all smelt it. As Barry said, anybody that has been up that road and gets the whiff, it would turn you.
“We all agree that something needs to be done, but it seems that nothing ever is.
“The smell’s still there and the people living in the area are suffering. So, we need to do something and we fully support the motion.”
Councillor Mark Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party, Clogher Valley DEA) said he felt sorry for the Killeeshil residents.
He commented: “I just want to thank Councillor McElvogue for raising the issue.
“Since I have joined Council here back in 2022, this was one of the first issues that were brought to me on a number of occasions.
“Unfortunately, very little seems to have changed in that three years. The odour is still as bad.
“I suppose what started as quite a local business, has turned now into a real community concern.
“The smell isn’t just unpleasant, but it’s claimed to be now affecting the health and play time of children, and indeed local families enjoying their homes.
“This isn’t just about an odd bad day, it’s often a daily burden that none of the local residents signed up for.
“I know myself from speaking to residents, they feel that no one is listening to them, and the onus seems to fall on them all the time, between reporting and emails to the various departments.
“So, anything that can be done to help bring a resolution to the situation, I’m happy to support it.”
Councillor Malachy Quinn (SDLP, Torrent DEA) pointed out that he had been contacted about this ongoing issue by former council colleagues: “The SDLP is very happy to support the motion. I know it’s a long-going issue.
“I’m not from the area, but I’ve had correspondence with both former councillors Sharon McAleer and Anthony McGonnell who are very concerned about it.
“You’ve seen the amount of media press that has been done over it, and the amount of people have gone up, they’ve smelt something, and the fact that we still haven’t had any action on it is quite frankly ridiculous.
“I think something does need to be done.”
As proposer of the motion, Councillor McElvogue thanked his Council colleagues, right across the chamber, for supporting his motion.
Concluding, Council Chair, Councillor Frances Burton stated: “I think it’s something that has done the rounds for a very long time and we need to really take action.”
Addressing the Chief Executive of Mid Ulster District Council, Adrian McCreesh, she added: “So, you’re going to organise a meeting, and we’ll work from there then.”
