Petition launched to stop the Treatment Works smell in Rawcliffe

Liberal Democrat ward councillors in Rawcliffe and Clifton Without have launched a petition in an effort to stop the smells coming from the Water Treatment Works near Rawcliffe Park and Ride.

Residents have had to endure foul smells near the sewage works throughout the summer, with no abatement in sight. In response to local concerns, the ward councillors are now petitioning Yorkshire Water to take decisive action to stop the smells coming from the Rawcliffe Waste Water Treatment Works.

£340,000 was spent by Yorkshire Water on improvements to the site in 2019 to install new technology which would clean the air from the treatment process before it is released into the atmosphere. The investment had kept the smells at bay, however just three years later, the persistent smells are back.

Local councillors are urging residents to sign a petition, which will be submitted to Yorkshire Water and any other relevant bodies later this year.

The petition can be signed here: https://www.yorklibdems.org.uk/stopthesmell

Councillor Sam Waudby, local Lib Dem councillor, commented:

“This has been a horrendous problem for residents in the surrounding area, especially in the warmer months. As well as affecting residents, thousands of visitors use Rawcliffe Park & Ride, and the smell is a dreadful welcome to the city.

“To help us convey the extent of concern in the community, we urge residents and anyone affected to sign the petition, which we will be using to lobby Yorkshire Water to finally give long suffering residents a smell-free community.”

Councillor Derek Wann added:

“Whilst speaking with residents in the area, we’ve heard first-hand how residents have been affected. During the heatwave some felt unable to open their windows, new parents have said how they don’t want to play with their young ones outside, and we’ve even had visitors to the city get in touch to ask what on earth is going on. 

“The last few years have proved that Yorkshire Water are capable of managing the site without smells spreading across the local community – but this summer it’s worse than ever. We are calling on Yorkshire Water to stop the smell coming from the Water treatment Works once and for all.”