POULTON residents are kicking up a stink about a foul smell that has repeatedly plagued the area over the last year, lasting up to several days.

The issue was raised last week at a residents meeting attended by Seacombe Councillor Adrian Jones.

Accusations have been made towards the Tate and Lyle storage facility on Poulton Bridge Road, which has seen increased activity over the last 12 months.

Though close to the dry docks, Bidston landfill and abandoned Mobil Oil facility, the smell is reportedly strongest around the ‘Tate Triangle’, the area containing a facility used to store vegetable and lubricating oil.

Locals liken the stench to rotting fish and soured milk. “It’s like being ambushed,” said one. “If we have washing on the line the smell gets into it before we can bring it inside.”

Cllr Jones says the area records above average rates of asthma and chest conditions.

“Residents have commented on chesty coughs, retching and constant sore throats. Mothers close doors and windows to protect their children,” he said Householder Pauline Platt, of Balfour Road, has lived in the area her entire life. “I’m used to industrial smells from the port and industrial area - there used to be a piggery on Clayton Lane - but those smells were bearable. This is not and people have had enough.”

Another resident in nearby Chamberlain Street told the Globe: “My lads won’t play out because of the smell. Normally there are hundreds of kids running around in summer but now the streets are empty.”

Tate and Lyle said that the miasma was not poisonous and council officers have not acted as the smell is not illegal.

An environmental health spokesman said: “The council have been made aware of the smell around the Poulton/ Seacombe area of Wallasey and are doing all we can to locate its source.”

But Cllr Jones said: “As recently as last February, when I raised it with our professional officers, they were given assurances by Tate & Lyle that the company would be in touch with us to discuss it.

“But they haven’t and now there’s been another episode of the revolting stench.

“I am extremely upset that Tate & Lyle have made no attempt to contact local residents or councillors and am insisting that they speak to residents in person.”