The pong is gone, for now

The "great pong" seems to be gone, or at least gone from Stoke-on-Trent. For those who have not experienced it, a 'bad eggs' smell has been periodically wafting down into and through the Stoke valley since about the end of last summer. It was very bad by the end of January, and returned briefly and in a much lesser form at the start of March.

Perhaps it's the general lack of rain that's caused the pong to go 'poof' and vanish, but I haven't sniffed anything untoward for about five or six weeks now. Doubtless the month of May will see the rain returning, though, and May Day Bank Holiday has a fearsome reputation for being a windy washout. So we'll have to see what happens after a few good downpours.

Walleys Quarry landfill in Silverdale is blamed, but they say they have proof that the ultimate cause is off-site. Regardless of where it's coming from it can't be very pleasant for those living on the lip of the dump or trying to sell their houses there. All I can say that central Stoke-on-Trent appears to be no longer affected, at least until the next heavy rain comes.