Update on Westerleigh smell

Claire Young recently met representatives of the Environment Agency, Wessex Water and Tulip abattoir to discuss odour problems affecting Westerleigh village.

Over recent years, Tulip have made significant changes to how they operate to reduce the risk of smells, including making the whole process more enclosed. This has improved the situation greatly. However residents have recently reported odours from the sewers in the village.

Tulip are concerned by these reports and keen to address any potential issues. As a result, Tulip have now installed a new chemical dosing system to tackle hydrogen sulphide in the sewer (this is the gas that has a “rotten eggs” smell). Dosing has begun and an immediate impact on hydrogen sulphide levels has been recorded, virtually eliminating the hydrogen sulphide. They are also carrying out a wider effluent review, with the help of an external expert, to identify a longer term solution. They won’t stop the chemical dosing until they have an alternative in place.

It is really important that if you experience a very strong smell, particularly inside your home, you report it while it is happening. To enable the Environment Agency to fully investigate and take appropriate action, the odour has to be smelt by an authorised officer. Tulip have asked Claire to give out a new contact number for them, 0117 9571919, which is answered 24 hours a day. If the odour persists, please also contact the Environment Agency’s hotline (0800 807060).

Tulip have also briefed the livestock lorry operators not to park outside the site next to houses. However, on occasion a new driver may not be familiar with the briefing. Please contact Tulip if livestock lorries are parked outside your house.

The Environment Agency don’t regulate smells to the point of no odour leaving the boundary. Brief or faint smells would not be something they would enforce, providing Tulip are following the agreed methods of odour control. Where they would investigate is if strong smells persist for a long period of time.