Water firm wins praise over waste treatment

Don Robinson met with officials from the water company at his home in Scalby Mills following the announcement that 110m is to be invested so that Yorkshire beaches can put the world to shame in smashing new water quality targets coming into force in 2015.

Mr Robinson said: "I am pleased to say that of the 7.6m being spent in Scarborough the largest amount is being spent at the Scalby Mills pumping station with the rest being spent at the waste water treatment works to the north of here.

"We are very pleased, speaking on behalf of the residents, that Yorkshire Water has acted so well."

In the early 1990s, Mr Robinson and his neighbours were involved in a long battle with Yorkshire Water over a rotten eggs-type stench from the pumping station.

The complaints died down after Yorkshire Water opened a 30m sewage treatment plant north of Scalby Mills in 2000.

However, Mr Robinson says that when odours began wafting over the houses two years ago it became clear that the process was no longer working properly.

Andy Taylor, treatment manager at Yorkshire Water, said: "While our pumping station and sewage treatment works perform vital roles, we understand there have been some issues and we recognise that this is simply not acceptable.

"The last thing we want to be is a bad neighbour and hopefully this significant investment demonstrates just how committed we

are to making the necessary improvements which should go a long way towards reducing any odours from both sites."