Fly infestation forces pub to close its kitchen

Photo: Google

The Greengate on Halifax Road

Swarms of flies caused a Rochdale pub to close down its kitchen after nearby recycling plant was accidentally sent a skip full of rotting waste.

The Greengate on Halifax Road had no choice but to stop serving food when hundreds of flies took over the building, also invading nearby homes and disturbing entire streets.

The waste was sent to plastic recyclers ABC Recycling Ltd, on Dye House Lane, causing The Greengate Hotel landlady Deborah Alger to lose takings. She told Rochdale Online: “I’m constantly walking around with a fly spray but as you can imagine it’s not enough. They are absolutely everywhere, there was no way we could carry on serving food. I lost between £800 and £1,000. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “ABC Recycling hold an exemption to store and treat plastic waste.

"The Environment Agency has been monitoring the site following reports of an increase of flies in the area. We have visited the site on numerous occasions over the past few weeks to make sure the company complies with their exemption.

“To ensure compliance the company has removed approximately 50 tonnes and are spraying the site with pest control. The Environment Agency continues to monitor the site closely. We have been talking to the local community who have also been given our hotline number, 0800 80 70 60, to phone if the situation changes.”