A protester who glued his hands together and padlocked himself to the gates of controversial landfill says he is prepared to stay for “as long as it takes” to bring change.
Thousands of complaints have been filed over the stench emanating from Walleys Quarry in Silverdale, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, which emits a pungent odour claimed to have sparked anxiety and depression in some locals.
Residents of what has been dubbed the "UK's smelliest village" have likened the stench to "rotting flesh" and "dirty nappies", and claim it hurts the back of their throats.
A protester who would give his name only as Simmo, today padlocked himself to the metal gates with a chain as part of the ongoing “Stop The Stink” campaign.
The 43-year-old man, who says he lives in Knutton, told Stoke On Trent Live that he had used four tubes of superglue to bind his hands together.
When Stoke On Trent Live spoke to him, he said he had already been sitting on the ground, wrapped in blankets, for around 90 minutes and was prepared to stay for as long as it takes.
Stop The Stink campaigners gathered at the Silverdale site were live-streaming Simmo's protest on Facebook and many passing motorists beeped their horns in support as they drove past.
One lorry was waiting inside the landfill site and another was parked up the road waiting to go in.
Simmo, who was at the landfill with his teenage son, said someone had 'to stand up to' site operators Walleys Quarry Ltd.
He said: "It has been 14 months since Nathan Wint chained himself to the gates and nothing has changed since then.
"We get moved on when we protest so I chose to do something where they couldn't easily move me. I did a practice run at home to make sure I wasn't allergic to the glue.
"I don't know how they will unstick me - I'm told the police will have to call in someone special. I am prepared to stay here for as long as it takes and I hope it will make a difference. If not, other action will have to be taken. I am willing to be arrested for the cause."
Simmo said that emissions from the landfill were affecting his health and that he 'just wanted someone to listen' to his plight.
"I suffer from epilepsy and I have been having more seizures than before,” he added. “The landfill gives everyone headaches all the time and that's a major trigger for me. It's having a big effect on me and everyone else.
"Why should a baby's first breath or a person's last breath be from this place, why? I just want someone to listen. Where's the alpine air that Boris Johnson promised us?"
Nathan Wint, of Silverdale, chained himself to the gates in January last year and was at the site today to show his support for Simmo.
He said: "It still stinks as bad as ever and it's the biggest problem in Newcastle. It's quite sad that it has come to this. I tried to convince him not to do this but he has had enough."
Fellow protester Cameron Allman, of Silverdale, said he had been at the site every day this week. "I was here outside the gates for 11 hours yesterday," he said. "I don't think it will make any difference but what else can we do?"
Walleys Quarry Ltd condemned the actions of the protesters and has asked for an 'urgent meeting' with Staffordshire Police.
A spokesman said: “Aside from wasting further police, and possibly NHS, time it is hard to see what the futile gesture of glueing your own hands together might achieve.
“In view of the increasingly erratic and obstructive behaviour of some of this small group of protesters, we have asked for an urgent meeting with police.
“Their activities this week have included climbing on to the back of and entering vehicles as well as attempting to enter the site. It is fortunate that they have not so far led to serious injury to protesters, road users or our staff.
“Ironically today’s activities have succeeded only in preventing vehicles carrying capping and gas management materials and equipment from entering the site.
“Thus work in further mitigating any limited nuisance from the site have been delayed by these erratic and obstructive protests.”
The Mirror has contacted Staffordshire Police for comment.
