Petition calls for end to ‘Melville Pong’ from Fife landfill site

North East Fife politicians Willie Rennie MSP and Wendy Chamberlain MP have launched a petition to stop the smell coming from Lower Melville Wood landfill site following contact from constituents whose lives have been blighted by the odour for the past few years.

Earlier this year Mr Rennie and Ms Chamberlain called for the site, operated by Fife Resource Solutions on behalf of Fife Council, to temporarily close if it could not eradicate the smell.

They are calling on Fife Council and Fife Resource Solutions to take all action necessary to stop the stink for the benefit of residents – temporarily closing the site if necessary.

A petition has been launched and shared on social media to give local residents the chance to call on the council to take whatever action necessary to stop the smell permanently.

Mr Rennie said: “We have said before that if the site cannot resolve the issue then they must consider closing until they can.

“If the issue cannot be resolved while remaining operational then other solutions have to be explored and Fife Resources Solution and Fife Council must not rule out closure of the site.”

Ms Chamberlain added: “While we appreciate the work that Fife Resource Solutions and the local authority have done to resolve the issue, they must go further.

“Since the smell has returned, Fife Resource Solutions must look into the issue, resolve the matter, and give assurances that there is no return of the smell once it has been resolved in this instance.”

Councillor Ross Vettraino, convenor of the environment, protective services and community safety committee, accused Mr Rennie of “playing politics”, adding: “I don’t know what he’s going on about.”

Cllr Vettraino said SEPA had been proactive in its investigations and only detected odour on the A92, although it was not deemed to be offensive.

“I’ve been out on site, responding to calls, and I’ve never smelled it,” he added.

“It’s grossly exaggerated in my view. I’m confident Fife Resource Solutions have done all they can do under the circumstances.

“I think people are smelling agricultural smells. I’ve never experienced a smell at anyone’s home, garden, place of work or recreation.”