Sewage firm told to clear the air over pungent summer aromas

Residents in Hedon have complained for more than a decade about odours emanating from Yorkshire Water’s sewage treatment plant at Saltend, which intensify in summer and can even be detected drifting along the River Humber into Hull.

And although the firm says it is taking action to address the problem through a major investment in new equipment, householders who attended a public meeting at the town hall last week say they have lost patience with its “false promises” and are demanding action now.

They have opened an online petition to put pressure on the company to act, which – by yesterday afternoon – had been signed by 163 people including East Riding councillors John Dennis and Mike Bryan.

In a statement urging others to sign the petition, the councillors said: “For too long local residents have lived with the smells emanating from the Saltend water treatment work every summer, and have been fobbed off by false promises from Yorkshire Water.

“And even though they are now endeavouring to solve the problem by installing new odour control equipment, people have heard it all before and want high level action taken now to remove the most obnoxious stink we have ever had in all the 11 years this alleged ‘no smell’ facility has been up and running.”

The plant is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe and treats 40 million gallons of waste water every day, including a complex mix of trade effluent, before discharging the water into the Humber.

Residents were told when it opened it would be “odour free” but have endured the misery of the stench every summer since.

The noxious vapours, which a woman from Hedon yesterday described as “disgusting”, have also blighted villages in the area and residents say they can no longer hang their washing out as it becomes tainted by the smell.

Pubs serving food are also concerned by the effect on customers and drinkers who would prefer to sit outdoors if were not for the smell.

The pressure on the company is mounting and Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart – who last year declared himself “satisfied” with the steps being taken – has now called an “urgent” meeting with company, local councillors and council officials to press for an effective short-term response to the “outrageous” smell.

Mr Stuart said: “What local residents have had to put up with has been horrible. We all know that a second odour control unit is being put into the plant and hope it can provide the proper long-term solution we have all been working for.

“Nonetheless, the smell now is outrageous and management needs to get a grip on it. At the meeting the councillors and I will express local residents’ disgust at Yorkshire Water’s continued failure to protect them.

“I will be pressing the council (East Riding) to use its powers to ensure that Yorkshire Water cleans up its act.”

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said: “We would like to apologise to the local residents for the odour issues we are having at our works, recognising that these are deeply unpleasant, and we want to reassure them that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the issue.

“To that end we have a team of industry experts and scientists in addition to our own on-site team closely monitoring the day to day running of the plant to ensure everything is being done to minimise odours, including regular inspections and mechanical maintenance.

“To support this we are well under way with a £3.5m scheme to install a new high-tech odour control unit which will be the biggest in the region and twice the size of the current system. This will be completed by December with the unit operational then.”