Couple 'prisoners' in home due to scrapyard fumes

A couple living close to a Black Country scrapyard have said odours, smoke and layers of black soot leave them feeling like "prisoners" and afraid for their health.

Residents near Enablelink Metal Recycling in West Bromwich said fumes had been unbearable for two years. Debbie and Gary Griffin are considering moving home after living there for 30 years.

"[The last 18 months] has been really terrible, so draining and some days I can't even get out of bed," Mrs Griffin said.

The company said it had invested "hundred of thousands of pounds" to mitigate issues and that everything it had done had been "approved by the Environment Agency."

While much of the country basked in the sun during last week's heat wave, the Griffins stayed indoors avoiding fumes, dust and noise - making Debbie feel like a prisoner in her own home.

"You get up on a nice day but can't go out because of the fibres, you can't go out and peg your washing or even enjoy your garden - it's awful.

"You can smell the petrol smell and it is getting worse, I feel like a prisoner in my own home," she said.

Mr Griffin said the impact the scrapyard was having went beyond disturbance.

"I come home from work most nights and she is in tears, it is hard to hear her cry.

"She wants to move because of it all but I think why should we move we've been here 30 years," he explained.

The couple said they became aware of the nearby scrapyard after a fire there 18 months ago.

They had blocked a vent and bought a new front door to attempt to stop dust seeping in but nothing seemed to work.

"I taste it in the back of my mouth and I think 'what is it doing to my health?'

"I'm always wiping away dust, always smelling and tasting the fumes and it is constant," Mrs Griffin added.

The Environment Agency (EA) said it was aware of ongoing odour issues and had advised the operators to work within the environmental site permits and regulations.

Mr Griffin said more needed to be done by the EA to see an improvement.

"If the EA are recording high levels [of fumes] on certain days why has it not been shut down but allowed to continue?

"Nobody is listening," he said.

Sandwell Council said its officers had visited the site in December and the business highlighted proposed works to improve standards.

The managing director of the scrapyard, Josh Long, said: "We are constantly talking to our neighbours.

"We have sites across the Midlands and this is the only one where we get complaints.

"We have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds in the past 12 months to mitigate the situation.

"Everything we do is approved and regulated by the Environment Agency."

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