UK’s biggest cheese factory is ‘ruining lives’ as ‘rotten eggs’ stink out village

A sleepy village in the British countryside may be the smelliest in the country thanks to the stench produced by the largest mature cheddar factory in the world.

The plant responsible for making Cathedral City Cheese was ordered to reduce odour and noise five years ago after repeated complaints from residents.

But those living next door to Cornwall’s Davidstow Creamery say they’re still living in hell with vile smells being pumped out and whirring noises keeping them up all night, CornwallLive reports.

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The site is responsible for popular products such as Cathedral City, Frylight, Clover, Davidstow Cheddar and a key powder used to make baby formula.

But the waste-water treatment plant has been accused of polluting the area’s water and air. Last year they admitted breaching permits by polluting – killing thousands of fish and “blighted the lives of people living nearby”.

The company pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges of polluting and was fined more than £1.5 million in June 2022.

The Environmental Agency says improvements have been made but the site continues to breach permits, leaving residents feeling downtrodden, hopeless and even suicidal.

Natalie, 40, and her partner Mark, 55, purchased a home near the site last summer – they were aware of the legal proceedings and proceeded with the sale after advice from solicitors.

The pair say repeated stinky smells caused by gases coming from the site and noise issues are “ruining their lives”.

Natalie says she struggles to sleep because of the “deafening” sounds, and some days the noise is so bad she is reduced to tears and can’t leave her home.

The situation has become so unbearable that at times she claims she has suffered the darkest of thoughts.

The family fears its savings are wrapped up in a property that Natalie says she “would not sell to her worst enemy” for them to then suffer the same fate.

It was purchased with the hope of opening a glamping site on the land, but the constant smell of rotten eggs plaguing the site put a stop to their dream – forcing them to return to their former careers.

Natalie, Mark and their 11-year-old daughter Lydia all suffer headaches and nosebleeds due to the stench from emissions.

In the summer, they claim they couldn’t open their windows and their little one was unable to play outside.

“We are just at utterly a place of despair,” she said. “I’m angry and anxious all the time. When I open the door I know I’m going to be confronted with the smell and the noise.”

Saputo, the owner of the Davidstow Creamery, said: “We have undertaken a substantial programme of capital investment and operational improvements over the last four years at the Davidstow site. We are aware of a few neighbours still experiencing issues around odour and noise and further initiatives are underway to address this, which they are aware of.

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“We work closely with the Environment Agency (EA) – sharing plans and regularly reporting progress. Furthermore, we hold regular three-way meetings with the EA and local residents to update them on progress and discuss any complaints. Davidstow residents are represented by the parish council, with whom we have a productive working relationship. We recommend speaking to them as they are best placed to speak on behalf of the broader community.”

It added that environmental compliance “remains a top priority”, adding: “We remain firmly committed to our environmental agenda and ongoing investment plans.”

Residents said that it was frustrating that communications between them and Saputo are conducted only through the parish council, which Saputo confirmed is representing them. Davidstow Parish Council did however not respond to our request for comment on the ongoing issues facing residents.

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