The EPA has arranged the  community information night to tell people how the organisation has worked to stop the smells that have plagued Rutherford Industrial Estate for the past 20 years.

“But even as we did our letter box drop urging people to come to the EPA meeting, a horrendous smell engulfed us,” Steve Jordan, a member of the former Rutherford Air Quality Liaison Committee, told the Mercury.

“It was the sort of metallic smell people have endured in Rutherford for so long and it made me physically sick.

“And all this was happening just when the EPA is about to tell us how they have solved the problem.”

Mr Jordan said it was vital for people to attend tonight’s ­meeting at the Bradford Hotel to express their grievances.

“This could be a make or break meeting for our group too,” he said. “If only a few ­people turn up, our campaign to abolish the so-called Rutherford stink will probably come to an end.

“I believe local residents need to hear what the EPA has to say.

“And if people are not satisfied by what they hear, they will still need to keep pushing for results.”

Mr Jordan said members of the group had distributed several hundred notices about the EPA meeting.

Ramona Cocco, an asthma sufferer and also a member of the former Rutherford Air Quality Liaison Committee, said she too had been affected by the smell on Sunday.

“It was very strong, coming from Regiment Road and Marlborough Road and we need an explanation from the EPA about why this is still happening,” she said.

“It is a known fact that odour emissions adversely affect the community’s health and we should be protected.

“This is why it is so important for everyone to attend the EPA meeting tonight.” 

The meeting at the Bradford Hotel, 358 New England Highway, starts at 5.30pm and ends at 7.30pm.