'Stop the stink', say campaigners at factory demo

7 hours ago

Aisha IqbalBradford political reporter

Young campaigners joined parents, teachers and business people to protest outside the plant in Dryden Street, Bradford

Aisha Iqbal/BBC A large group of children, with a few adults, stand posing with placards saying 'end the stink'. Most of them also hold their noses in disgust. Behind them is a factory, with large, shiny metal pipes visible. — Young campaigners joined parents, teachers and business people to protest outside the plant in Dryden Street, Bradford

Children wearing face masks and carrying placards joined parents, teachers and residents to protest over foul smells blamed on a Bradford animal rendering plant.

The demonstration, outside P Waddington and Co's site near the city centre on Tuesday, was the latest by campaigners who say the "gut-wrenching" odours have affected nearby communities for decades.

Among those protesting was Mohammed Daraz, who said: "Every time I'm in the area I find myself having to cover my nose or stop myself from retching. This abomination is dragging down the whole city's reputation."

A spokesman for Waddington said the firm respected people's concerns but had always operated within its environmental permit.

The protest came ahead of a Bradford Council regulatory meeting next month to discuss the factory's licence.

More than 100 people gathered outside the factory, which turns animal carcasses and roadkill into biofuels, on Tuesday evening.

Protesters' chants of "end the stink" filled the air, as the factory continued its operations in the background.

Yahya, one of the younger children taking part, said: "When I'm playing outside, I have to go running inside because of the smell."

His message to the factory and the council was blunt: "Shut this down."

Other youngsters compared the smell with sewers, raw flesh and rotting food.

Campaigners say the children's experiences cut to the heart of the issue.

Local businessman and lead campaigner Ummer Daraz said: "The kids, as well as any neighbourhood, deserve clean air, without the fear of being hit by this putrid odour."

His son Mohammed said the smell had been part of his experience of the area for as long as he could remember.

And he believes the situation is damaging Bradford's reputation.

"Anyone that comes through this city will assume that this smell is coming from the local takeaways and butchers, but it's not," he said.

Ummer Daraz, holding the megaphone, addresses the crowd at Tuesday's protest outside the Waddington factory

Aisha Iqbal/BBC A crowd of people, some of them children, many holding placards saying 'end the stink' and 'stop the fumes'. Some of the crowd wear face masks. A man stands in the middle holding a megaphone and addressing the crowd. Around them are are people filming on phones and cameras. — Ummer Daraz, holding the megaphone, addresses the crowd at Tuesday's protest outside the Waddington factory

The demonstration followed a similar protest last summer, and more recent calls on the new Reform UK leadership at Bradford Council to act.

A Change.Org petition started by campaigners has now been shared more than 3,500 times.

Campaigners recently met council representatives and said they felt there had been some progress made.

The group is now pinning its hopes on the council's regulatory committee examining the evidence, and taking firm action.

"We want them to follow due process, but we want them to follow it fairly and decisively," Ummer Daraz said.

"Just because this place has a permit, it doesn't give them the right to cause a nuisance to the community."

Parents, teachers, children, businesses and concerned citizens from outer areas of Bradford were among the crowd at Tuesday's protest

Aisha Iqbal/BBC A large group of people, many wearing masks, standing outside a factory. It's a mixed crowd of men, women and children. Large metallic pipes and industrial structures behind the crowd identify the location as a factory or processing plant of some sort. — Parents, teachers, children, businesses and concerned citizens from outer areas of Bradford were among the crowd at Tuesday's protest

Tim Elcock, a school teacher who also lives locally, said he had regularly noticed the smell but had not previously known where it was coming from.

"It's quite clearly coming from here because we can smell it now," he said.

"I think the onus is on the council to revoke the licence. And if they revoke the licence, then we stop the stink."

For those gathered outside the site, the smell is not confined to the streets immediately around the factory.

Many say it can travel towards Bradford city centre, reaching workplaces, shops and venues at a time when the city is trying to attract visitors and investment.

Katie Jones lives in Shipley and says she wants people to enjoy "the best of Bradford", not be exposed to the "rank" fumes

Aisha Iqbal/BBC A woman wearing a colourful face mask and a green cotton top and beaded necklace. Behind her out of focus stands a crowd of people. — Katie Jones lives in Shipley and says she wants people to enjoy "the best of Bradford", not be exposed to the "rank" fumes

Katie Jones, who lives in Shipley, said the smell in the city centre was "just rank sometimes".

"I read some reviews of people that had come from outside Bradford to Bradford Live, which is an amazing venue, and were put off by the smell", she said.

"I was like, 'That's such a bad advert for Bradford.' I really want people to enjoy the best of Bradford. It needs to be taken really seriously."

Another protester, Noreen Shah, said she had been "overwhelmed by this sickening stench" since her teenage years.

"My children are born and brought up in Bradford and that smell is still there," she said.

"There are times we can't sit in the garden because the smell is so overwhelming."

Young campaigner Mohammed Daraz says he's grown up experiencing the "abomination" of the factory stench

Aisha Iqbal/BBC A young man stands in front of a factory plant, identified by a sign in the background as P Waddington and Co. The lad wears a gas mask. — Young campaigner Mohammed Daraz says he's grown up experiencing the "abomination" of the factory stench

Councillor Ian Walker, Bradford Council's executive member for neighbourhoods and communities, said the authority understood the frustration of residents and businesses.

"We are listening to people's concerns and have met with campaign representatives," he said.

"I want to reassure them that this is an issue that we are working very hard to resolve."

P Waddington and Co said it continued to work constructively with the council.

Director Alistair Collins said the company tried to minimise odours beyond the site boundary and had "always operated within the strict requirements of our permit and emissions management plan".

The company said it had agreed a protocol with the council for an independent environmental consultant to carry out further testing and monitoring of emissions.

But campaigners remain concerned over their quality of life in the meantime.

As the chanting continued, Ummer Daraz told the crowd: "We will not accept this as inevitable.

"Bradford deserves better.

"The message from the community, businesses, families and visitors is simple. We would like Bradford Council to take decisive action in this upcoming meeting.

"They have the power, as we understand it, to revoke the licence under evidence considered, and we demand that they take a decisive step to protect public health, and stop this stink."

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