Hazlemere residents choking from smoke in Amersham Road

The fire started on Thursday, April 29, in Amersham Road, at the Pennwood Grange housing development site owned by Bellway Homes. 

Homes are due to be built and ready by Winter 2024.

Residents who live in Badger Way, which backs onto the site, have smelt "burning rubber" for eight days. 

The smell is particularly bad in the morning, explained residents.

Susan Jamson said: "My disabled daughter is choking. Nothing burns for seven days and the government guidelines say a fire should be put out in four hours.

"We just want to know what this." 

Four fire engines from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service have been seen attending the site in the last couple of days.

On the first day of the fire, emergency services issued an appeal to the public to keep their doors and windows shut due to heavy smoke. 

Steve Baker MP said: "I understand the fire is out, but that it continues to smoulder in piles of rubbish. I know our fire service will reassess the situation.

"In the meantime, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the firefighters who serve in Wycombe and across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

"They do an amazing job and we’re blessed indeed to have them serve us.”

Jen Lions who lives in Badger Way, said: "The smoke comes across into our gardens then we have another house up the road who has children.

"It stinks, it makes the kids cough.

Her husband Chris said: "I left here at 5am and it smelt like it was still burning and this morning [May 2] it just stinks and I know fires stink but it's been a week and it still absolutely stinks. 

"Its mixed recycling and there used to be a coach company there before so I don't know if its tyres. 

"Bellway should go in there and clear it, they're developing the site but they don't give it a damn.

"I feel sorry for the firemen who have to keep coming out." 

Jen added: "They've put great big massive concrete blocks on the front so the brigade can't get their engines in and they have to run their hoses all the way up through the fields. They have to get four engines in." 

Their daughter Orla, 11, said: "There was thick black smoke last Thursday but by the end of the day it was white smoke. We all stayed outside and you could see it but it was kind of blowing the other way.

"At the junior school the field was covered in white smoke and there was still kids on it.

"When I got home I coughed a bit." 

Tony Antonio who lives at 25 Badger Way said: "My wife is quite asthmatic and has a sensitive nose as well so she was affected.

"We had to close all the windows doors so she couldn't smell it so from that perspective she was complaining about it and it was hard for her to sleep from it. 

"I could still smell it when I woke up or if I went to take the dog for a walk. My son is the same."

Tony's garden backs onto woodland which is accessible to the site where the fire is burning. 

Cllr Steven Roy said: "I am concerned that there is still smoke coming from the site and have again contacted the fire service and environmental health team at the council to get action taken."

Bellway Homes said: "On Thursday 25 April, Bellway was made aware of a fire on our Hazlemere site, caused by fly-tippers.  

“The fire service was called out and the fire was immediately extinguished. Bellway remains in communication with local fire services on this matter. 

“We have since reinstated concrete blocks on each site entrance to prevent unauthorised access to the site again. 

"A contractor has been appointed, with waste due to be cleared next week. We will be meeting the fire and environmental officer today."