A LANDFILL site which was the source of the infamous ‘north Swindon pong’ has closed.

Gas often escaped form the site, at Chapel Farm, near Blunsdon, causing a stench which blighted the lives of residents from Oakhurst through to Highworth.

People complained of a number of smells, ranging from rotten eggs to burning rubber.

However, the site has now reached its capacity and work has begun on capping the landfill and restoring the area to a natural state.

It is expected this will take up to three months, depending on the weather.

Hills Waste Solutions, which operated the site, will oversee the area which will be monitored for the next 60 years.

A spokesperson for the company said: “While most of the site will be returned to agricultural pastures for grazing, work has already started on restoring a substantial section of the site in such a way to be attractive to bees and other small wildlife. 

"Hills is also in discussion with a local beekeeping association and a cider and perry company who have both expressed an interest in the future use of sections of the restored site.

"The new habitats being created will ultimately become part of a wildlife corridor being created across North Swindon in partnership with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

"This will create a positive long term improvement for the area."

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