A Southend MP has described rotting food inside a fire-damaged warehouse as a serious “hygiene hazard”, after weeks of foul smells and swarms of flies have made residents’ lives a misery.
David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said he will chair a community meeting on Friday 31 October to address the growing concerns. The meeting follows his visit to the Metrow Foods warehouse on Airborne Close, which was devastated by a major fire in August 2025.
The blaze, which broke out at about 11.30pm on 15 August, tore through the large industrial unit containing perishable goods including cheese, meats, seafood and vegetables. Seven fire crews attended and remained at the scene for three days as they worked to bring the flames under control.
The fire caused serious structural damage, disturbed asbestos insulation, and cut power to the building – leaving tonnes of food inside to rot.
Southend-on-Sea City Council said:
“This led to the decomposition of a large amount of food stored inside, creating unpleasant smells and environmental concerns.”
The Labour-run authority served an abatement notice on Metrow Foods on 19 September, giving the company time to clean up the site. However, the deadline has now passed and the smells continue to affect nearby homes.
Council leader Daniel Cowan said:
“This is a deeply concerning situation for residents. We are in ongoing discussions with the company and are considering the council’s legal position and what further action can be taken to ensure this issue is resolved. We remain committed to holding the company causing the nuisance to account and to finding a solution and minimising the unpleasant situation that residents are experiencing.”
Councillor Paul Collins added:
“This has been a terrible situation. The councillors and now our MP have been demanding that this huge health nuisance is stopped. Southend-on-Sea City Council knows our view on this and the council holds the powers under the Environmental Protection Act to demand that Metrow Foods do much more to make it stop. Evidence is being gathered and officers were on site Friday and Saturday.”
The council confirmed it is now considering enforcement action, after the abatement notice failed to bring any improvement. Reports suggest swarms of flies have been spawning in the decaying food, adding to the distress of residents nearby.
The community meeting, chaired by Mr Burton-Sampson and attended by Eastwood Park councillors, will take place on Friday 31 October from 6pm to 7pm. Those wishing to attend should email: david.burtonsampson.mp@parliament.uk
One local resident, who lives nearby, said: “The smell has been unbearable at times. We can’t open our windows, and the flies are everywhere. We just want something to be done.”
The council says it will take enforcement action if breaches of the abatement notice are confirmed.
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