For over a year, the residents of Smallfield, Surrey, have found themselves trapped in a cycle of environmental distress, as a series of persistent, noxious fires continues to haunt the village. Despite intensive campaigning from the local community and repeated interventions by East Surrey MP Claire Coutinho, the illegal burning of waste remains an unresolved hazard, forcing families to shutter their homes against toxic fumes.
The crisis began in the summer of 2025, when residents first noticed the pervasive smell of burning rubber and industrial chemicals. Since then, the situation has escalated from a nuisance to a significant public health and safety concern. In a formal correspondence initiated in December 2025, Ms. Coutinho alerted the Environment Agency to the gravity of the situation, noting: “Residents have reported a number of allegedly illegal fires, often producing thick smoke filled with noxious smells of burning rubber and industrial chemicals.”
The impact on local life has been severe. The toxic plumes frequently blanket the village, forcing residents to keep their windows closed regardless of the weather. On social media, villagers have voiced mounting frustration and health fears; one resident shared that the constant exposure to the fumes has caused her and her husband to suffer from recurring headaches, describing the ongoing ordeal as “unbearable.”
The threat has now extended beyond the village boundaries, creating a hazard for regional infrastructure. On several occasions, dense smoke has drifted across the nearby M23 motorway, significantly reducing visibility for motorists. The severity of the obstruction has forced National Highways to deploy warning messages on overhead gantries to alert drivers of the danger, highlighting the scale of the fires.
Despite these clear indications of illegal activity, the resolution process has moved at a glacial pace. The Environment Agency, which is investigating the incidents in coordination with Tandridge District Council, stated in August that they had issued instructions to landowners to cease the burning of waste. However, for the people of Smallfield, these instructions appear to have had little effect.
In a recent update, Ms. Coutinho expressed her dismay, noting that “not a week goes by in the village without families forced to shutter up their homes to protect against noxious fumes.” While the Environment Agency maintains that it is committed to stopping the illegal activity, they have stated that they require further evidence to advance their investigations—a stance that many residents find disheartening, given that they continue to document and report the fires as they occur.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency stated: “Our officers have instructed landowners to comply with environmental regulations for managing waste at sites across Smallfield. We know that the illegal burning of waste is unacceptable, and is understandably causing concerns amongst the local community.” The agency added that they are continuing to collaborate with the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to monitor risks and pledged that they “will not hesitate to take appropriate
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