Neighbours living in a gated community have been vomiting from chemical fumes caused by a nearby furniture factory.
People from Carrara Wharf near Putney Bridge have been complaining about the smell coming from polyurethane paint finish at River Woodwork, in Ranelagh Gardens, for two years but claim it has become worse over the past month, with two even vomiting from the fumes which last a few hours.
They say Hammersmith and Fulham Council does not appear to be doing anything but the owners of River Woodwork claim they are in the process of installing a filtration system to ensure their neighbours are happy.
Mr Johns, who has lived in Carrara Wharf for three years , said: “I woke up the other morning because of the smell and it actually made me vomit. I’m really worried about mine and all my neighbours’ health as the smell is so toxic. The council said they could only do something if they smell the smell but every time they come hours later and its gone.”
His neighbour, Mandy Hoellersberger, has lived there for 20 years and said she has had two sets of guests who have left because of the fumes. “It’s really bad, I’ve been to speak to the owner of River Woodwork and he’s very charming but nothing seems to be getting done. This is a health issue and what’s worse is I seem to be getting slightly used to it because my guests could smell it straight away but it took me a bit longer. Even if I close my windows and doors it still seeps through.”
Georgina Little runs the business with her husband, Toby and told the Gazette the council visited them on July 1 because of complaints, saying they would have to issue an abatement notice if the matter was not resolved. “We’re a small local business and very much work in the area, therefore we wouldn’t want our neighbours to be unhappy with us as a company. So, we’ve contacted a company which tests and installs industrial clean air filtration systems and they’ve recommended we install a carbon filter system onto our existing extractor system which they say produces 99 per cent clean air.
“All of this is obviously at our expense and something we are prepared to do in order for all concerned to be happy with us as a local business working in the area.”
Wesley Harcourt, the council’s community safety and environment boss, said officers have responded to the complaints and are working with River Woodwork to resolve the matter.
