More than 200 local residents have contributed to a major independent assessment into the potential cumulative impacts of living near Saxon Pit in Whittlesey on health and wellbeing.
Commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council, the Cumulative Health Impact Assessment (CHIA), published today (7 October), combines survey responses, in-depth interviews and community input to provide the most comprehensive picture to date of residents' experiences and inform future public health action. The work supports the council's vision of "A healthy, fair and sustainable Cambridgeshire", helping to build a better understanding of the factors that can influence residents' health and wellbeing.
The study was recommended following a public health risk assessment published in January 2026, which identified the need to better understand residents' experiences of the potential cumulative effects of activities in and around Saxon Pit on their daily lives. Evidence was gathered through a four-week survey, which received 238 responses, and 18 in-depth interviews with residents living within 1km of the site.
While the CHIA does not establish cause and effect or attribute impacts to any specific operator or activity, it provides valuable insight into how residents say local environmental conditions affect their daily lives, health and wellbeing. Its findings are based on the views and experiences reported by the local community, rather than environmental monitoring data.
Among the issues reported by residents, dust was the most commonly identified environmental concern, with 88% of survey respondents saying they had experienced dust in the previous 12 months. Perceived poor air quality (73%), odour (61%) and noise (58%) were also frequently reported in the survey data.
Reported impacts generally reduced with distance from the site. This pattern was strongest for noise, with 51% of households within 200m reporting a high impact, compared with 35% between 200 and 500 metres and 17% between 500m and 1km.
Reported impacts from dust, perceived poor air quality and odour also tended to reduce with distance from the site.
Most respondents said they experienced multiple issues at the same time. Ninety-three per cent reported experiencing two or more environmental stressors during the previous year, while 84% reported three or more.
The assessment also identified several common themes:
- Many residents felt environmental conditions had worsened over recent years.
- Eighty-two per cent said they felt that the combined effect of local issues was worse than each individual problem they experienced, while 71% felt impacts on them had built up over time.
- Residents with a self-reported health condition or disability, and those who spend most of the day at home, tended to report feeling more severe impacts.
- Concern about potential impacts on children, older people and vulnerable residents emerged as a significant theme, with 91% of respondents expressing concern for these groups.
The study also found that some residents had adapted their daily routines in response to conditions they experienced in the area, including keeping windows closed, spending less time outdoors and avoiding particular roads. The assessment also captured a range of experiences, with some residents reporting little or no impact.
Sally Cartwright, Director of Public Health for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "This assessment provides an important evidence base about how residents living near Saxon Pit experience their local environment and the effect they say it has on their health and wellbeing.
"The assessment supports the council's ambition to enable full, healthy lives for all, helping us better understand the issues residents are experiencing and the factors they feel affect their health and wellbeing.
"A particular strength of the study is its focus on residents' lived experiences, bringing together the views and concerns of people who live in the area every day.
"The findings help us better understand the issues residents are experiencing and the way they feel these pressures can combine and build up over time.
"I would like to thank all of the Whittlesey residents who took part in the survey, interviews and advisory group and shared their experiences.
“The council will now invite residents, operators and regulators to consider and respond to the findings. My team will also review this new evidence alongside the recommendations from the original risk assessment to determine whether any existing recommendations should be strengthened or whether further public health action is required.”
The findings and review by Public Health will also be considered by the Oversight Group which was set up following the recommendations of the risk assessment. This group includes county, local district and town councillors, residents, operators, regulators and environmental health representatives. Any strengthened or new actions on public health will be taken forward through this group and findings, and any further recommendations will be shared with regulators as appropriate.
You can read the CHIA in full at: Cumulative Health Impact Assessment | Cambridgeshire County Council
