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Mysterious smell leaves Belfast's Christmas shoppers gagging

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Mystery surrounds a nasty whiff that left Christmas shoppers gagging as they poured into Belfast yesterday.

The rancid reek dominated the air close to the lower reaches of the River Lagan, particularly affecting the streets near the Waterfront Hall and the Albert Clock.

Commuters also claimed one of their last working days before Christmas had got off to a foul start thanks to the unseasonal stench.

One motorist said it would put shoppers off scouring the shops at one of the busiest times of the year. “I was driving past and I couldn’t believe the smell. It nearly made me crash the car,” the driver said.

But the source of the obnoxious odour has left staff scratching their heads at Belfast City Council and Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

Northern Ireland Water was equally flummoxed, insisting it was caused neither by an overworked sewerage system coping with this week’s snow nor the newly-opened Belfast Sewer Project, which has yet to carry any flood water.

“NI Water has investigated reports of a malodour in the Albert Clock area. NI Water can confirm the sewerage infrastructure is operating normally,” a spokeswoman said.

But councillor Jim Rodgers is confident that the source of the putrid pong is the River Lagan, pointing out that it’s happened many times before.

And although the acrid aroma had dispersed by lunchtime yesterday, he promised he would be asking the Council’s environmental services department if any whiff of it returns.

“I was in the area and I got a sniff of it. I saw a few people looking round wondering where it was coming from,” the former Lord Mayor said.

“I think you’ll find it was coming from the River Lagan. The smell used to be dreadful but because of major works over the last five or six years, it hasn’t been as bad. You’re the third person who has drawn it to my attention.

“It’s like the North Foreshore — periodically they get this awful smell. I think it’s the Lagan — it used to come on a regular basis and it was dreadful, but you would expect it more in summertime when you’ve got a bit of sunshine.

“In the Lagan at the minute water levels have been quite high and I don’t know what could be causing it. If it comes back I will be asking environmental services to investigate.”

But the councillor insisted Christmas shoppers wouldn’t be put off their business.

“Belfast is absolutely booming and the tills are ringing like nobody’s business — it would take more than snow or a bad smell to stop people coming to do their Christmas shopping,” Mr Rodgers vowed.

“People here are made of sterner stuff. It might put people in other cities and towns off, but not this great city of Belfast.”

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It was Newman's soup!

Posted by Jack Goff | 24.12.09, 01:48 GMT

Could be Stormont, however, I suspect that the smell is being enhanced by the underlying stench of bigotry and racism which still seems to be festering in all corners of N. Ireland.

A blessed Christmas to the Belfast Telegraph staff and to all.

Posted by Edward | 23.12.09, 17:52 GMT

Could it possibly be another bubble surfacing? Similar to the one that collapsed the road surface in Cromac Street in November?

Posted by Centaur | 23.12.09, 17:14 GMT

On second thoughts the amount of gas emanating from Stormont would cover not just an area of Belfast but the entire country-and then some!

Posted by Derek Adams | 23.12.09, 16:31 GMT

It's almost certainly a severe gas leakage from Stormont!

Posted by derek adams | 23.12.09, 15:13 GMT

probably all the bull talked at stormont drifting in

Posted by community worker | 23.12.09, 14:10 GMT

about 3 yrs ago we were home on vacation. the smell was awful, but nobody seemed to notice. we commented on it to my brother, and he was oblivious to it. this was strange to me, so we just put it down to our absence for some time. at least we now know it wasnt just us. we felt it might be a health hazard, but people just kept saying not at all. thanks for allowing me to vent as i love my home town in spite of some of the goings on, so the more these things are reported, they will be fixed. thank you j. mc sherry

Posted by James Mc Sherry | 23.12.09, 14:06 GMT

was probably brussels sprouts! they ming too.

Posted by Fizz | 23.12.09, 11:34 GMT

Could the pong be due to all the rotten eggs wasting our money in the Assembly?

Posted by fred | 23.12.09, 11:34 GMT

probably just 'out of date' politicians decaying...........

Posted by Seymour Bunting | 23.12.09, 11:29 GMT

“People here are made of sterner stuff. It might put people in other cities and towns off, but not this great city of Belfast.”

That's a bit patronising. Shouldn't he be saying that he's going to make sure it won't happen again?

Posted by --thenewmule-- | 23.12.09, 10:48 GMT

It's hardly a mystery, the level of the Lagan is dropped fairly routinely for maintenance work on the banks and the level was low yesterday morning when I was walking down the towpath. The bottom mud is anoxic (has no oxygen) so the bacteria in it are similar to sewage bacteria, and are thus very smelly.

Posted by joebetwa | 23.12.09, 10:09 GMT

Sorry folks..that was me.

Posted by James | 23.12.09, 09:12 GMT

I'll admit it. I was out the night before and had a load of the Guinness followed by pretty dodgy kebab. I couldn't help it. Was rushing to work and just let one go. SBL (Silent but deadly). Didn't know it would linger for that long. I apologise but seriously what is a man to do?

Posted by Windbreaker | 23.12.09, 08:44 GMT