Markham Vale M1 jnc 29A

[HOOVER29]

Over the years whilst driving up to Doncaster I’ve always noticed a strange chemical odour as I’ve passed Markham vale on the M1 junction 29A. It’s just as you pass the junction heading north. I used to live on a farm when I was younger & it’s always reminded me of the smell of the chemical they used to spray crops with.
Can anyone tell me what it is & why it’s used.

 

[edwin_m]

May be to do with it being the former site of Markham Colliery?

 

[nlogax]

Looks like it's related to lingering contaminants at the old Coalite facility.

https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/n...ting-nasty-smells-from-coalite-site-1-8338479

"The Environment Agency is investigating reports of odours coming from the toxic old Coalite site.

Work started in November (2017) to clean up the former chemical works facility off Buttermilk Lane, Shuttlewood.

Eventually, more than 650 new homes, community facilities and a primary school could be built at the site under plans which promise to create 1,500 jobs.

But during the course of remediation work – which has included the emptying, cleaning and purging of tanks and pipelines – residents have raised concerns about nasty smells.

An Environment Agency spokesman said this afternoon: "We are investigating reports of odour coming from the former Coalite site."

 

[robbeech]

This is indeed correct. I live a few minutes from junction 30 of the m1. I can’t smell it at home but there are villages not too many miles away where it is noticeable.

I think it’s got significantly better over the years but if you get off the motorway at 29A and head towards Clowne you go past the site and it’s definitely still noticeable.

When I was touring, I’d always know I was nearly home (if coming from the south) when I could smell it and knew it was time to get out of the bunk on the bus and get ready to be dropped off at junction 30.

 

[HOOVER29]

When I was touring, I’d always know I was nearly home (if coming from the south) when I could smell it and knew it was time to get out of the bunk on the bus and get ready to be dropped off at junction 30.

Yeah it’s always been an indicator to me that the M18 junction is just around the corner.
It’s just in that area. 0.5 miles up the road & it’s gone.

 

[edwin_m]

The big coking works by the railway between Chesterfield and Clay Cross always used to have a tarry smell. And I think I recall something similar when being driven over the Tinsley M1 viaduct in the 70s.

 

[Ken H]

Just north of the junction, of the left as you go North on the M1 there is a short metal chimney and some plant. I have no idea what it is but the chimney exhaust looks like a blue gas flame at night.
Can see it on Google maps as there is a blue truck in the way.
I assumed it was some sort of vent from the old Markham Main pit.
But maybe that smells.