The Incident Management Team (IMT) was established in response to offsite odour pollution concerns affecting local communities in February 2024.

Given the significant reduction in odour reports, the operational improvements made by the site operator, and the continued low exceedances in air quality monitoring, it has been determined that the situation has moved beyond incident response and therefore the role of the IMT is no longer required.

The multi-agency Incident Management Team (IMT) will hold its final scheduled meeting in April.

Ongoing work related to Withyhedge Landfill will continue to be delivered as part of normal operations within each partner organisation — Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC), Public Health Wales (PHW), and Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB).

Should circumstances change and the need arise, the group will be reconvened.

NRW carried out a site audit at Withyhedge Landfill on Thursday, 6 March.

• Horizontal gas wells have been installed throughout Cell 9A and 9B and connected to the gas management system.
• Waste disposal activities have progressed into Cell 9B, in line with the approved waste phasing plan.  Waste disposal activities cannot progress into Cell 9C until the CQA Validation Report has been submitted and accepted by NRW.
• Temporary capping will shortly be installed across sections of Cell 9A; this will aid in the management of landfill gas.

PIC to right: A horizontal gas well

An initial review of the permit variation application for the landfill has identified a need for additional information, and a request has been sent to the operator.

Once the necessary information is provided, a decision will be made on whether the application can proceed to the determination phase, during which all relevant details will be assessed.

Due to the high public interest in the site, part of that assessment will include a public consultation where members of the community will have opportunity to have their say on the proposed changes.

Further information will be provided ahead of the consultation process. 

IMT members have reviewed the evidence collected to date and taken this into consideration alongside the sustained low number of complaints, and the commitment from the site operator to continue to develop their own monitoring and improvements to their odour management plan. It has been agreed that there is no longer a need for publicly-funded monitoring at this location.

NRW received 11 odour complaints in February, with reporting numbers remaining low. NRW Officers have not detected any offsite odours attributable to the landfill since waste disposal activities recommenced on 6 January 2025.

Report a smell via our dedicated form or by calling 0300 065 3000.

Alternatively, report to PCC by emailing  Complaints.withyhedgelandfill@pembrokeshire.gov.uk