Council responds to Fruit Fly Fiasco at Metrow Foods site

October 23, 2025

The Council recognises the impact this incident has had on nearby residents and is committed to protecting public health and ensuring the company takes appropriate action. The Health and Safety Executive is also involved in the matter.

The fire caused serious damage to the wholesale food warehouse. Firefighters had to access the building through the external structure, which disturbed asbestos insulation and cut power to the site. This led to the decomposition of a large amount of food stored inside, creating unpleasant smells and environmental concerns.

Since receiving the first complaint on 27 August 2025, the Council has taken several steps to investigate and address the issue. Environmental Health Practitioners have carried out multiple site visits, worked with the company and their surveyors, and served an Abatement Notice under Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on 19 September 2025.

Cllr Martin Terry, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, said: “We've been working closely with the company, including issuing an enforcement notice, which has given them a reasonable amount of time to deal with the environmental health nuisance. This timeframe has now passed.

“We are in ongoing discussions with the company and are considering the Council's legal position and what further action can be taken to ensure this issue is resolved. We remain committed to holding the company causing the nuisance to account and to finding a solution and minimising the unpleasant situation that residents are experiencing.”

Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council, added: “This is a deeply concerning situation for residents, and I want to reassure our community that the Council is doing everything within its legal powers to resolve it. We will continue to act firmly and transparently to protect public health and ensure accountability.”

The Council continues to work with Metrow Foods and their legal representatives to ensure that the best possible steps are being taken to resolve the issue. The company has said that the complexity of the situation has delayed full compliance with the abatement notice. The Council is investigating whether the notice has been breached and will take enforcement action if needed.

While Metrow Foods is a valued part of Southend's business community, supplying many local restaurants and employing over 100 people, the health and wellbeing of residents remains the Council's top priority.

We understand how distressing this situation has been for those living nearby, and we are committed to resolving it as quickly and safely as possible.

The Council has a legal duty to act proportionately and within the law. All actions taken to date have followed national guidance and statutory requirements, and we continue to assess the situation carefully to ensure the right steps are taken.

The Council will continue to provide updates and remains committed to resolving this matter in a way that protects public health and the local environment.