Can Rushden finally swat its problem with flies?

For more than a decade, people who live close to an industrial estate in Rushden, Northamptonshire, say they have been plagued by flies and a persistent smell.

The problem has been reported to the Environment Agency (EA) who say they continue to monitor the situation.

On Monday, the Labour MP for Wellingborough and Rushden, Gen Kitchen, called a public meeting at Rushden Hall for residents to air their views. It had to move outside as the room could not hold the large number who turned up.

So are the authorities finally set to deal with it?

The source of the flies and the smell has never been officially confirmed, but businesses and residents believe it comes from the recycling centre Monoworld, on the Sanders Lodge Industrial Estate.

The company has been approached for comment.

However, the BBC understands that it has previously strongly denied it is the cause of any of the problems and believes its control procedures are fully effective.

James Pamplin, 49, has lived in the area since 2019 and says he loves his home - but dealing with the problem is "horrendous".

He said he was not aware of the problem "until it was too late". Every time his family tries to eat outside, he says, "within minutes a little swarm of flies lands on the food - it's absolutely disgusting".

He described how the summer's extreme heat left the problem "really bad" and the smell was "unbelievable".

If windows are kept open up to 40 flies will enter "in about five minutes, it's not normal", Pamplin added.

He confirmed he keeps on reporting the problems to the EA but if things do not change he might investigate legal options.

He said the only time the situation eased was for a few months after May 2025 when Monoworld had a huge fire.

"I spoke to all the neighbours and they were like, it still smells of smoke, but have you noticed there's not a single fly?

"It was lovely, it was really nice, but when operations started again the flies started again."

Pamplin's wife Nadia, 49, adds: "I've got quite a sensitive nose, the smell really makes me feel sick, it interrupts my day, I have to get out of the house to get away from it.

"We've got a beautiful skylight up there, we cannot use it at all. I work from home so my mental health is not great. My blood pressure is through the roof, it's affecting me quite a lot and everyone else around here says the same."

She said her husband attended the meeting but concluded that "no one had any good ideas".

Gen Kitchen said: "I visited Monoworld last year after the fire.

"Local residents raised with me that the problem with excessive flies around the site has continued since the fire.

"Although I have raised this myself with the EA I wanted to provide an opportunity for local people to also have their say. Their frustrations around the issue were clear to see and I hope this marks a turning point."

She said after the meeting she suggested to the EA that local residents and businesses should be provided with the necessary tools to monitor the flies and report back to show the extent of the problem.

"I have also written to DEFRA [Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] about the problem and I will be working closely with those affected to keep pushing for a solution," she added.

Andrew Bellamy, 66, a sheet metal toolmaker for Harlequin, on the estate, said the company tried to deal with the issue with fly traps.

"This summer has been diabolical," he says. "You try and have lunch and the flies are constantly around you. It's pretty grim."

Welding lights also attract the flies, he says. His site manager has attended the meeting but concludes: "I can't see anything being done about it, nothing will happen."

Officials from Monoworld had come over and said they would spray the area every month if the flies continued.

"I think it's all come about because of the meeting," he added.

Katrina Smith, 53, who has lived close to the estate for two years, says she has tried to deal with the problem with fly swats and zappers, but they have not been great as they make her dogs "bark like mad".

"There were so many people at the meeting, and we had to move outside, but I don't know if there will be any outcome," she says.

The chief executive of Monoworld attended, but did not speak and was about five minutes late, she says, adding: "I'm not sure anything's going to get resolved, personally."

An Environment Agency spokesperson confirmed they attended the meeting and said the body was working with the MP "to support community fly monitoring which will help provide additional evidence about the scale and frequency of fly activity in the area".

"We will continue to assess all reports received, carry out inspections and review monitoring data provided by the operator," they said.

It asked anyone with an issue to contact them on its hotline.

A spokesperson for Rushden Town Council confirmed they also attended the meeting and the authority had been "lobbying regarding the fly infestations since 2012".

They said: "This problem is still having a huge detrimental impact on local residents and businesses.

"We would welcome a cross-organisation approach to resolving this problem."

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