The Environment Agency has confirmed it is investigating unpleasant smells in Ilkeston and Trowell following reports from residents.
Responding to an enquiry from Ilkeston News, the Agency said officers are working to establish the source of the odours and urged people affected to report incidents through its 24-hour hotline.
The confirmation comes amid concerns about smells affecting the area over recent weeks, with a local councillor calling for a repeat of the coordinated response used during an earlier campaign.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Communities should not have to tolerate bad smells, and we are investigating what is causing them in Ilkeston and Trowell.
“We urge members of the community to report smells to us via our 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060 to help us with our investigation.”
The Agency has not identified a source in its response, named any business or given a timescale for resolving the problem.
Councillor calls for coordinated action
Broxtowe borough councillor Don Pringle, who represents Awsworth, Cossall and Trowell, urged residents to report odours in a post on 15 October, describing the preceding ten days as “horrendous” for bad smells in Trowell.
He said the issue had affected the village for years and had previously come to a head during lockdown, when residents were spending more time at home and in their gardens.
According to Cllr Pringle, that earlier campaign collected more than 300 incident reports, with residents sharing their reporting reference numbers through the Smelly Trowell Facebook group.
He said the campaign had resulted in monthly meetings between agencies.
“It produced results, we need to do that again,” he said.
Cllr Pringle encouraged residents to provide as much detail as possible when reporting an incident, ask for a reference number and share it with the group.
Difficulty identifying the source
One frustration raised with Ilkeston News is that residents reporting an odour are asked where it is coming from — something they may be unable to establish, even when the smell is strong at their own property.
The Environment Agency said reports would help officers assess the information and determine whether further action was required.
The Agency also advised that concerns about odours from unknown sources, or activities it does not regulate, should be reported to the relevant local authority, which is responsible for investigating statutory nuisance complaints.
How to report the smell
The Environment Agency is asking people experiencing odours in Ilkeston and Trowell to call its 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 807060.
Useful details include where the smell was noticed, the date and time, how long it lasted and a description of the odour. Residents who do not know its source should make that clear. Any suspected source should be described as a suspicion rather than an established fact.
Residents can also contact their local council’s environmental health team in line with the Agency’s advice about unknown sources and activities outside its regulation.