The long running issue of Penrith’s odour issues, known as the Penrith ‘pong’, remains in 2025, warns a leading local campaigner.
Jeff Thomson of the Fresh AIR for Penrith campaign received figures from the Environment Agency which reveal a particularly smelly Monday for the town in February.
The Environment Agency figures, released through a Freedom on Information request, show the agency received 21 odour complaint reports from the Penrith area on the 24th February. The number of complaints received during the whole month was 38. In January, the Environment Agency received 31 complaints.
The total odour complaint reports from the Penrith area to the Environment Agency over the last few years:
2022 - 311
2023 - 1367
2024 - 1092
First two months 2025 - 69
The environment agency has not publicly linked any of the odour complaints to any local source but has previously said it was aware of upto eight sites around Penrith.
The Fresh Air for Penrith group is now waiting the outcome of a Westmorland and Furness Council environment health investigation into 2023’s 1367 odour reports, to see if any constituted a statutory nuisance.
The council is believed to have completed its investigation and a meeting with Thomson, one of those who originally called for the investigation, is expected within the next couple of weeks.
“The objective is to have the odour source, or sources, formally identified and named, then relevant action taken by the authorities to see it comes to an end. We, don’t want another smelly year,” said Thomson.
Resident can report odour issues to the Environment Agency by calling 0800 80 70 60.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
