Campaign’s bid to clear the air at waste site

Biowise Ltd is seeking permission from the Environment Agency to extend its licence to increase the range and amount of waste it processes while also extending its site in Albion Lane, Willerby.

The company, which takes household waste from Leeds Council among other sources, wants to increase its possible annual tonnage from 24,999 to 75,000, and increase its composting storage capacity from 10,000 to 30,000.

But residents in Willerby and surrounding villages have set up a Stop The Stench campaign, and met with Environment Agency officials this week to highlight their concerns.

Elizabeth Robinson, of Kirk Ella, said: “It depends which way the wind is blowing but sometimes it knocks you off your feet and sometimes you think, what’s that funny smell? We have asked for the decision on the licence to be deferred until we have had a public meeting.”

Keith Bowser, who runs a small nursery from his home in Eppleworth, and Mark Bentley, who works from his home in Main Street, Willerby, both claim the smell is affecting their businesses.

The company insists it is complying with its licence, apart from one breach of its tonnage last year.

Managing director James Landau added: “We only take the waste that’s permitted on our licence. The Environment Agency are happy with what we are doing.”

The agency has asked the firm to put together an odour management plan.

Environment officer Rebecca Baxter added: “We listened to people’s concerns and we are taking these on board when we consider Biowise’s application to vary its permit. We want to make sure that the permit is robust enough address these issues.”