Conflict continues to linger over a nuisance smell that has emanated from a veg plant in Leicestershire over several years.
The leader of a local campaign group formed in 2010 to bring together affected villagers claims the “vomit-like” smell from AB Produce still harms the quality of life for Measham residents.
Michael Williams, of Campaign Against The Smell, is also irked by a perceived slow reaction to tackle the issue.
Neil Sharratt, AB Produce director, said the firm has spent and continues to spend money to try to solve the issue, and claimed that by 2012, complaints were cut by 70 per cent.
AB Produce – which supplies foodservice and retail – generates wash water, which is a mix of water, peelings, starch and mud.
This was stored in on-site lagoons, with the sludge at the bottom of these identified as the key cause of the bad odour. The firm emptied the lagoons in September 2014, and now works with the Environment Agency on an odour management plan (OMP).
Yet Williams told FPJ that a stench believed to be from AB Produce has been witnessed in recent weeks.
Sharratt said that after “significant changes to the management team structure”, the firm has held regular meetings with local authorities, the Environment Agency and community representatives to “discuss the ongoing situation and seek relevant regulatory support for initiatives to further improve water treatment processes on site.”
He added: “AB Produce feels a strong obligation to the local community, which still provides a large proportion of its workforce, and actively seeks to support any initiatives which reduce its operational carbon footprint and enhance the local environment.”
Williams claimed the stench – complained about since 2006 – was akin to “vomit and cheese” at its worst, and said it stopped villagers enjoying outdoor activities.
Further engagement with residents is planned by AB Produce, including displaying plans for an AD plant that would achieve full utilisation of food waste streams.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The situation has improved since summer 2014, when decomposed wastes from the bottom of the lagoons were cleared. However, there are still complaints from residents that odours are affecting them in their homes.”
She added that the agency believes that as long as the OMP is adhered to, AB Produce can control the odour.
No comments yet