Community fund for odour victims

a COMMUNITY fund is to be set up in a “goodwill” gesture to residents who have been plagued by years of unpleasant smells from one of Europe’s biggest sewage works.

By The Newsroom

Published 25th Jan 2012, 06:00 BST

Yorkshire Water said the fund would support community projects in areas affected by odours from its Saltend sewage plant, which led to hundreds of complaints.

The firm completed work last month on a £3.5m odour control unit to limit the smells, although it concedes it cannot eradicate them entirely.

A spokesman said: “Unfortunately, we will never be in a position to say that the site will not ever smell, but these works will certainly help to reduce the problem significantly.

“We are keenly aware that we have had to rely on the patience and understanding of local residents for a number of years on this matter. We have therefore agreed, as a gesture of goodwill to the local community, to create a community fund to help support local projects that benefit the community in Hedon, Preston and the surrounding areas.”

The company has yet to decide how much will be in the fund.