A campaigner agains the ongoing odour issues in Penrith has said it’s ime to "call time" on the long-running Penrith 'pong', saying residents have endured decades of foul odours while authorities have failed to identify and stop the source.
Fresh AIR for Penrith campaign founder Jeff Thomson has criticised what he describes as years of "excuses and pointless conversations" following the release of new Freedom of Information figures showing a sharp rise in odour complaints made to the Environment Agency.
The figures reveal the Environment Agency received 277 odour complaint reports from the Penrith area during June 2026, the highest monthly total recorded so far this year. That compares with just 67 reports in May, representing more than a four-fold increase in complaints.
"The situation cannot be allowed to continue," said Thomson.
"In the year 2026, residents should not be suffering and reporting foul odour in the air.
"Too much waffle, and not enough action."
The Fresh AIR for Penrith campaign was established around seven years ago by residents seeking an end to what has become known locally as the Penrith 'pong' – an unpleasant odour that has affected parts of the town for decades.
Thomson said residents have continued to do what they have been asked by reporting incidents to the Environment Agency, but believes little progress has been made.
"They have been reporting odour, as they have been told to, for years, but nothing seems to have changed. Odour incidents are still occurring and still being reported."
He is now calling on businesses, business organisations, tourism groups, community organisations and public bodies to increase pressure for action.
"We need to know from the people and authorities supposed to be responsible for our wellbeing, environment and health, where the odour is coming from.
"We keep being told there are multiple sources. We want to know what these sources are and what is going to be done to stop odours spreading across the town."
Thomson also criticised what he described as a lack of public information following visits by councillors to an industrial site in west Penrith that many residents believe may be linked to the odour problem.
He said he attended a private meeting between Penrith MP Markus Campbell-Savours and Penrith Town Councillors as an observer and claimed residents have received little feedback.
"I know various town and unitary councillors, including Lib Dem MP Tim Farron, visited a plant in Penrith West Ward.
"All have refused to give any community feedback, hold ward surgeries or answer any questions about what they discussed or agreed.
"The situation is now wholly unacceptable. We want action to identify the pong source, or sources, and stop it. Nothing else will do."
Referring to hot weather earlier this month, Thomson said residents had again been affected by the odours.
"Over the past two nights, among the hottest on record, residents have had to shut their windows to keep pong odour out of their homes. I know, I've been one of them."
A former independent Penrith Town Councillor for West Ward, Thomson said he resigned from the council after being restricted from campaigning on the issue. He also confirmed that a High Court defamation case brought against him has now been withdrawn.
"Now the legal shackles are off," he said.
Thomson has confirmed he intends to stand for election again in May 2027, when elections are scheduled across local councils in the area.
"Next time I will not hold back.
"Residents want real action and not just lip service to a problem which has been around for years and allowed to fester unchallenged."
He is also calling on Penrith MP Markus Campbell-Savours to continue leading efforts to resolve the issue.
"Our MP has recognised and accepted there is a problem.
"It is now up to others in positions of power and authority to work with him and the community to end this nightmare.
"Whether it is more community consultation over industry planning, stricter industry permit legislation or tougher odour rules, a solution must be found."
Within the next few weeks Thomson says Fresh AIR for Penrith will launch a public pledge asking organisations and political representatives to commit to tackling the problem.
"Those who fail to sign up to be part of the solution are part of the problem."
In a wider statement, Thomson said residents should not have to live with odour pollution in 2026.
"Too many local organisations and authorities have failed to accept there is a problem, failed to take any responsibility and failed to take any action to stop what is commonly known as the Penrith pong.
"It's affecting our lives, health, wellbeing, economy and some may even say our sanity.
"It has to end now.
"There's no more sitting on the bench by business, industry and those who perceive themselves to be in authority, including councils, councillors and now Cumbria mayoral candidates.
"They are either part of the solution or continue to be part of the problem. They can't be both.
"We want the source, or sources, to own up, or to be identified and named, with serious action taken by the authorities to stop the odour pollution.
"No more denials, delays, excuses or buck passing. The Penrith pong has to be stopped."
Residents experiencing odour incidents are encouraged to report them to the Environment Agency via its 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60, with reports forwarded to local Environment Agency officers for investigation.
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