Investigation into bad odour in Dunmurry following complaints of ‘rotten egg smell’
A Stormont agency is to investigate a Dunmurry bad odour after complaints of a “rotten egg” smell in the air “choking” residents.
The council has also stepped in following reports of the stink causing local people to stay indoors as it surfaces around nearby children’s play-parks.
The NI Environment Agency has confirmed it will now use enforcement powers to inspect the Linamar Light Metals Belfast Ltd site as the identified alleged source of the stench.
Councillor Jonathan Craig said: "I have been approached by residents who were complaining about a heavy odorous smell like rotten eggs, that was choking them and physically taking their breath away.
“Apart from the fact it is an awful smell, you had to go indoors and stay out of it as it was causing them to choke.
“It is a very, very thick odious smell very similar to a smell I was involved in dealing with some years ago.
“This is in a built up area with a number of children’s play parks in the area.
“So, I do understand residents’ concerns and it is concerning that it has now resurfaced after an absence of almost five years.”
Linamar Light Metals Belfast Ltd, is an aluminium casting manufacturer, operating on the former DeLorean motorcar site since 1989.
It was originally part of the Montupet Group before being acquired by Canada’s Linamar Corporation in 2016 and officially transitioning its name in 2021.
Councillor Craig added: "The previous company involved in the bad smell spent something like £3.5m putting a recycling process in that at the time seemed to deal with the smell.
“I can only assume something has now gone wrong, I have asked environmental health to investigate and see what on earth has changed recently and see if we can get this resolved.”
The LDRS contacted Linamar for comment.
It is understood that the plant itself is currently in a summer time shut down.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council has said complaints have been made over the stench.
A spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the council has received complaints regarding odours in the Dunmurry area, allegedly associated with Linamar Light Metals Belfast Ltd.
“Council has notified Linamar Light Metals and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).
“Council has liaised with NIEA in relation to the investigation of the odours.
“Residents who may be affected by this odour and wish to lodge a complaint should contact NIEA by telephone (028 9056 9289) or email ([email protected]) and Environmental Health by telephone (028 9244 7397) or email ([email protected]).”
A Daera spokesperson added: "The Linamar light metals plant (formerly Montupet) is regulated by NIEA through a permit issued under the Pollution Prevention Control (Industrial Emissions) Regulations 2013.
“NIEA is aware of a number of recently reported incidents of bad odours in the Dunmurry area, some of which are in the vicinity of the Linamar installation.
“All cases have been referred to the company for investigation. The company has responded in each case with data which demonstrates that their emissions abatement plants are working effectively, and that they are compliant with their PPC permit.
“Following the summer shut down at Linamar, NIEA will be carrying out an inspection of the installation in the coming weeks and will investigate the reported incidents while verifying the data provided by the operator.”