MP's pledge on sewage smell

People living near the site at Saltend, and passing motorists, have complained for years about the stench, and the utility company has now secured the backing of regulator Ofwat to spend a further 3.5m to try to solve the problem.

Locals were promised it would be "odour free" when it opened eight years ago, and millions of pounds has already been spent trying to stop the smell. Beverley and Holderness Tory MP Graham Stuart has now met new Yorkshire Water chief executive Richard Flint to discuss plans for a new odour control unit.

Mr Stuart said: "While we all agreed there is no silver bullet to solving the problems of bad smells emanating from the works, it is important Yorkshire Water continues to work as hard as possible to minimise the effect on residents.

"The company made a bid to the regulator Ofwat to be allowed to make the capital investment in the works and I supported that bid.

"The latest odour control work is due to start at the plant following a scoping exercise to identify exactly what needs doing and is expected to be completed a few months later.

"I will, however, be keeping in touch with constituents in the area to see if that has worked and keeping the pressure on Yorkshire Water should it be needed."

A new report to East Riding Council's Cabinet said complaints have dropped significantly over the past year, but said the authority should inform Yorkshire Water it reserved the right to take legal action if it should become necessary.