EAST RIDING of Yorkshire Council have issued a statement confirming they have issued an abatement order against Yorkshire Water.
The statement from Nigel Leighton, director of environment and neighbourhood services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“Since 14, July 2015 officers from the council’s environmental health team have been investigating complaints from residents about odours coming from Yorkshire Water’s waste water treatment works at Saltend.
“The investigation confirms that a statutory nuisance exists. The council has a legal obligation to serve an abatement notice on Yorkshire Water, which has now been done.”
Bradley Robinson of the Stench at Saltend has hailed the news as “Great!” and “a fantastic achievement.”
“To a certain extent we can put our feet up after a summer of campaigning knowing that legal processes are in place to take up our case. I’ve also been informed that the Review Panel set up by the council want to hear evidence from the campaign group. It’s just sad it’s taken us over 10 years to get here!”
Alex Watts, agreed: “Absolutely delighted! It’s great to know that we don’t have to spend the rest of the summer ringing up, complaining, and encouraging others to do the same.
“The campaign continues, but the dynamic has changed. Our voices have been heard! I’m so proud of the way our community has stood up to be heard, I have never experienced anything like it in my life – that so many people have stood up and been counted.
“We’ve got to discuss the protest on Saturday – but I think it should still go ahead and be a celebration of what we’ve achieved.
“I’ve been part of this local community since 2003 and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else – and I’m certainly not going to be driven out by Yorkshire Water smells. We’ve got to fight to ensure that Hedon and the places we live, keep nice! And we’ve certainly done that on this issue.”
Yorkshire Water have responded in a statement:
“East Riding of Yorkshire Council has served us with a Statutory Nuisance Order in relation to odours coming from our waste water treatment works at Saltend.
“We accept that we have work to do to resolve this problem and have been liaising closely with the council for some time about the operational issues we face.
“Only last month we announced a full review of the site’s treatment processes and future investment needs to establish what needs to be done to ensure we can adequately cope with peak season flows in the future.
“In the meantime we would like to apologise once again to those customers affected by this problem.”
Local Councillor John Dennis will be chairing the Independent Review Panel set up by East Riding Council to investigate the recurring odour incidents and is visiting the Saltend site today as part of those duties. As an independent chairman he can not express a view on the subject matter and due to the ongoing legal nature no one from the council will be available to comment. However, Cllr. Dennis did express his delight that the concerns of local residents will now be thoroughly investigated.
Earlier story (from events yesterday):
RESIDENTS representing the Stench at Saltend protest group met with Yorkshire Water yesterday to visit the Saltend Waste Water Treatment Works and to have their questions, tabled by local residents, answered.
Speaking after the visit Joe Clixby said: “It was satisfying to meet with Yorkshire Water and find out how the site works and that now we have a voice within Yorkshire Water. We accept what they say, when they tell us that ultimately they want the same as us – an end to smells. We’re willing to work with them to that end.”
Bradley Robinson commented: “I think Yorkshire Water realise that we can’t be ignored. Our residents’ campaign has led to their customer complaints rising by 50% – they have to, they must take us seriously!”
Alex Watts however warned: “I don’t care about how the site works. I just want an end to smells which have ruined our lives. This is your ‘last-chance saloon’, Yorkshire Water. Any repeat of what is happening this summer and we won’t be holding back. We’ll be ready in any case to take action in July 2016.”
Joe Clixby added: “And the visit changes nothing. The protest at Yorkshire Water’s gates is still on – we’re urging residents to join our peaceful protest at the Saltend gates from 12:00 noon until 2pm this Saturday 22nd August.”
“Bring your banners, gas masks, flasks and voices!” urged Alex.
Note the latest from East Riding of Yorkshire Council:
Dear Sir / Madam
Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 79 and 80
Statutory Nuisance due to odour from Yorkshire Water Hull Wastewater Treatment Works, Hull Rd, Saltend, East Riding of Yorkshire
Further to your complaint regarding the above, I can confirm that the Council commenced an investigation into the odour emanating from the Hull WwTW on the 14th July 2015 which included over 250 assessments from investigating officers.
The Council has now gained sufficient evidence and is satisfied that a statutory nuisance due to foul odour from the Hull WwTW exists and an abatement notice was therefore served on Yorkshire Water Services Ltd on 17 August 2015 requiring the nuisance to be abated. Failure to comply with an abatement notice is an offence which may result in prosecution in the Magistrates Court where, upon summary conviction, a fine of up to £20, 000 per offence may be imposed.
Please be aware that the service of an abatement notice will not result in an immediate cessation of odours from the Hull WwTW site nor will it result in zero odours in the future. A programme of works is required to be implemented in order to minimise odours so as to prevent statutory nuisance to occupiers of neighbouring premises. Yorkshire Water have the right to appeal this notice.
I would be grateful if you could return any completed odour diary sheets regarding odours affecting you at home or your place of employment due to the Hull WwTW by Friday 28th August 2015 to:
Environmental Control (Rm DF 30), County Hall, Cross St, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire HU17 9BA
Please ensure your diary entries are accurate as they may be used as evidence in court and you may be asked to give evidence.
The odour diary is a format we find very useful and it provides data in a form we can include in our investigation, so we would encourage anyone bothered by a nuisance to use it and send it in periodically. Unfortunately we received a large volume of contacts from people using the “fix my street” application, which did not contain the information we needed for our investigation. The best way to report your initial complaint is to log it through our website at:
www2.eastriding.gov.uk/environment/pollution/air-pollution/smells-odours-and-dust/#report
Yours faithfully
David Howliston
Environmental Control Manager
Environmental Control
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
http://www.eastriding.gov.uk/pollution
I had a customer last Thursday who lives in Japan . He and his family were discusted by the stench !! Not a good impression for tourists !!!!
I am totally astounded at Graham Stuart’s Facebook status in which he claims credit for ERYC serving the abatement notice.
Bandwagon jumping at the very least – ERYC’s ‘rapid action’ has taken them fifteen years and was only bought to a head by the Stop The Stench Campaign.
Any prior attempts on the part of Hedon Town Councillors to lodge a complaint against YW have been little more than futile.
As for Graham Stuart: how can he even think of taking credit for any of this? He might as well live on another planet for all his use or support. Much like a chocolate fireguard!
Great news, huge thanks to everyone involved.
Well done to those who have led this campaign and to all who support it. It’s not time to rest on our laurels just yet though – true, an abatement order has been served but we still need it to be acted upon. The infamous ‘pea season’ is all but over so I hope that the natural easing of the stink isn’t going to be used as an excuse for YW to pretend they’re already on top of it. See you on Saturday!
Would prefer action to solve this problem once and for all rather than repeated and empty apologies!
Feels like the celebratory atmosphere of Hedfest all over again but three days later! This is the most brilliant news and a big well done to every single person involved with this massive achievement.
Yorkshire Water have responded in a statement: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council has served us with a Statutory Nuisance Order in relation to odours coming from our waste water treatment works at Saltend.
“We accept that we have work to do to resolve this problem and have been liaising closely with the council for some time about the operational issues we face.
“Only last month we announced a full review of the site’s treatment processes and future investment needs to establish what needs to be done to ensure we can adequately cope with peak season flows in the future.
“In the meantime we would like to apologise once again to those customers affected by this problem.”