I live in the ‘smokeest village in the UK’ where the ‘smell of human flesh’ makes it hard for my son to breathe

A FAMILY mother has claimed poison gas is killing her son and vowed to win the legal battle in “the most beautiful village in England”.

Rebecca Currie, 41, from Silverdale, Staffs., filed an appeal after the Government claimed that toxic fumes were harming her boy.

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Rebecca fears that the stench of chicken from the Walleys Quarry is shortening the life of her 5-year-old son.

She said the pungent smoke had made Matthew – her premature baby with chronic lung disease – even more miserable.

The vulnerable boy, born at just 26 weeks, needed oxygen support for 19 months.

Attorneys representing Matthew told the Supreme Court in August that there was a “public health emergency” going on near the quarry.

They argue that hydrogen sulfide emissions are affecting “hundreds and possibly thousands of locals”.

In September Mr Justice Fordham announced that the Environment Agency (EA) “must implement” Public Health England advice to reduce hydrogen sulphide concentrations in the local area to one part per billion.

But, after a challenge by EA, the Court of Appeals overturned that ruling in December and concluded that the claim “was neither justified nor necessary because there was no actual or alleged illegality.” should take remedial measures”.

Rebecca asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal against that decision, but the judge denied the permission on Tuesday, saying the case did not raise a contentious legal position.

She now plans to fight with the European Court of Human Rights.

Rebecca said: “I feel that Mathew was completely let down.

“First by the Environment Agency, whose job it is to protect us from dangers like contaminated air, and now the legal system.

“Despite the fact that the Supreme Court recognized the gravity of this situation and ordered the Environment Agency to do more to prevent the scandal of a private company polluting the air that we breath, we are now back to where we started.

“I am determined not to give up. The stink in our village continues and Mathew continues to be poor.”

Residents of “the UK’s foulest village” have likened the stench to “rotten flesh” and “dirty diapers”.

The so-called “Silverdale Stink” is believed to have been caused by an “extra-scale environmental disaster”.

People say the smell is so unpleasant that it burns their throat while others report headaches, asthma attacks, stress, worry and insomnia.

Rebecca added: ‘Seeing my baby having difficulty breathing, nosebleeds, I know any parent will understand that I have to keep doing all I can.

“This now means asking the European Court of Human Rights to step up where our courts have failed.”

Rebekah Carrier, of law firm Hopkin Murray Beskine, said: “The Supreme Court has missed an opportunity to clarify the correct approach to regulation of environmental hazards.

“This is extremely disappointing to Mathew and his community who take Mathew’s life so seriously.”

It comes as another protest was held outside Walleys Quarry yesterday, following yesterday’s protest.

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