Council takes action on Acomb / Rufforth smell (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Council takes action on Acomb / Rufforth smell

July 7, 2006 12:00 AM

Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Neigbourhood Services said "Council officers have been doing all that they can to take action on the farmer and contractor involved. The legal process has to be followed, which can seem slow. However, I am glad to say that the contractor has today (7th July) started, under the supervision of officers, to move the slurry below the ground surface, which will prevent smells rising into the air.

"The main problem has been the sheer amount of waste ice cream and beer - the lagoon is equivalent to three Olympic swimming pools, which could hold as much as 19,000 tonnes."

"The contractor has assured us that the work will be completed by Sunday which should result in the smell decreasing by early next week. I share the concerns of residents, as I am forced to keep the windows closed at my own home to avoid the smell."

The Environmental Protection Unit had served an Abatement Order on the farmer and contractor to give them a week to clear up the situation. This is a necessary part of the process for any legal prosecution to begin. Officers were on site until 11:30pm last night.

Cllr Waller added "I will be writing to the Environment Minister to ask that either the Environment Agency or local councils get the powers to enforce immediate solutions to problems like this. The law is too slow at the moment, which is unreasonable with an odour problem of this scale."