How to complain to Tulip about smell in Westerleigh

Following the drop-in earlier this month at Westerleigh Village Hall, the owners of the abattoir, Tulip Ltd, have issued a complaints process to use whenever there is a smell that you suspect may be coming from the abattoir. You can read it here.

Wessex Water unveil new sewer plans

There was a good turn out at the drop-in at Westerleigh Village Hall on Monday, where Wessex Water unveiled their plans to build a sewer bypassing the village for the abattoir waste. It is hoped this will address both flooding and odour issues in the village.

The new 1.6km pipe will be exclusively for Tulip trade effluent and will join the main Yate 600mm sewer north of the Nibley Lane junction. The work will cost £1 million and start in September 2018, taking an estimated 5-6 months.

There were also representatives from Tulip and the Environment Agency on hand to answer questions. Tulip will be putting in place a dedicated phone number to report any further issues.

Let's hope the new sewer will put an end to the bad odours affecting the village.

Reminder - Westerleigh smell drop-in on Monday

Before Monday's Westerleigh Parish Council meeting in Westerleigh Village Hall, there will be a drop-in from 5.30-7pm where local people can talk to Wessex Water, Tulip (abattoir owners) and the Environment Agency about the smell problem in the village. This follows the good news that Wessex Water plan to start on a Flood Alleviation Scheme in the autumn, which will introduce a new section of sewer that will take the discharge from the abattoir and bypass the village.

Westerleigh smell drop-in event

Following the recent good news that Wessex Water will be taking action next year to address the smell issues, they have agreed to attend a drop-in before the next Westerleigh Parish Council meeting.

The event will run from 5.30pm to 7pm on Monday 8th January in Westerleigh Village Hall. Representatives from Tulip (the owners of the abattoir) and the Environment Agency will also be on hand to answer questions and listen to any issues you might want to raise.

Good news on Westerleigh smell

Wessex Water have written to Claire Young to say they have planned a Flood Alleviation Scheme to address the flooding and odour issues in Westerleigh. This will introduce a new section of sewer that will take the discharge from the abattoir and bypass the village. The design has been signed off and works are scheduled to commence in September 2018.

They have also agreed to attend a meeting. Claire will be liaising with them and the Parish Council to make arrangements.

Westerleigh odour - keep reporting

Unfortunately there have been more odour problems in Westerleigh village this week. It's vital that people continue to report these to abattoir owners Tulip, even if you've previously had an unsatisfactory response to a complaint. You can call them on 0117 957 1919. Out of hours you will get the security staff but they are still supposed to take the details of your complaint and pass it on to the appropriate member of staff.

If the problem persists or you get an unsatisfactory response, please then ring the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 807060. Remember to say you are calling about an abattoir smell because different odour problems are regulated by different public bodies.

Claire Young has written again to the Environment Agency this week urging them to take action and has spoken to the official in charge of the investigation.

Reporting smell complaints in Westerleigh

Last week there were more odour complaints in Westerleigh village. The Environment Agency have asked the abattoir to investigate. They also stress that when there is an odour, please ring the abattoir first on 0117 957 1919 . It is much easier for staff to investigate the problem when it is happening. A new manager is dealing with the complaints.

If the problem persists, please then ring the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 807060. It is really helpful for them to be able to speak to complainants directly.

Latest on Westerleigh smell

Following recent odour complaints, the Environment Agency have visited Westerleigh abattoir to carry out a compliance assessment. They have asked the owners, Tulip, to make a number of improvements and will take further steps if these are not completed by the deadline given.

If you experience an odour that you think may be caused by the abattoir, please call them on 0117 9571919. If the odour persists, please also contact the Environment Agency’s hotline (0800 807060).

Works at Westerleigh abattoir

Tulip Ltd, the owners of the abattoir at Westerleigh, have informed local councillor Claire Young that as part of their commitment to improving any potential impact they have on the local area and their neighbours, they are upgrading their effluent treatment plant.

The first set of works will take place on the weekend of 1st and 2nd October. The main effluent tank will be emptied, cleaned and installed with new aeration pumps to help control and limit the production of odour in the tank. There is an increased risk of odours in the area while this work is being carried out. Tulip ask for your continued patience during these essential works and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

Recent odour problems in Westerleigh

Unfortunately there have been reports this week of odour problems in Westerleigh village.

Tulip are investing in a new effluent treatment plant at the abattoir to be installed this autumn/winter. They hope it will be up and running by the end of 2016. They are currently investigating measures to minimise odour release in the meantime.

If you experience an odour which you think may be caused by the abattoir, please call them on 0117 9571919, which is answered 24 hours a day. If the odour persists, please also contact the Environment Agency’s hotline (0800 807060).

It would help the Environment Agency with their investigations if some people kept an odour diary. This simply involves writing down the time, date and a brief description whenever you smell an odour. If you would be prepared to do this, please get in touch with Claire Young and she will pass your contact details on to the Environment Agency official who is investigating.

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.

Meeting with officials over smell in Westerleigh

Unfortunately after several years when the odour problems in Westerleigh had improved, in recent weeks there have been some significant issues, including a recurrence of smells via the sewers. Claire Young has been in contact with the Environment Agency and Wessex Water and will be meeting officials next week to discuss the next steps.

Don't forget the Environment Agency advice if an incident occurs. They ask you to:

• Contact Dominic Sugrue of Tulip in the first instance (0117 957 6056, Dominic.Sugrue@tulipltd.co.uk) . Tulip are obliged to investigate, they must also record details of the complaint and their response. This information can be audited by the Environment Agency.
• If the odour persists and the response is unsatisfactory, please also report the odour to the Agency’s hotline (0800 80 70 60).

It really is important to report incidents as and when they happen, to give the best chance of resolving the problem.

Westerleigh smell - latest action

Over the last 5 years smell incidents related to the abattoir have greatly reduced but there have still been some, particularly up on Westerleigh Hill. Last week while out talking to residents there I reported an odour incident to the Environment Agency. The official working on the case says that he thinks he has identified an activity at the abattoir that may be causing the odour and will be meeting staff on site in May to look at what measures can be put in place.

Don't forget, if you think an odour is coming from the abattoir ring Dominic Sugrue of Tulip on 0117 957 6056 and if the odour persists without a satisfactory response, call the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

Latest on Westerleigh smell

Last month I passed on some reports of smell incidents to the Environment Agency to investigate. The agency believe the most likely cause is related to the handling and storage of Animal by-product (ABP) waste. The waste is collected in a road trailer within a building. The doors of the building are closed and air inside is extracted through a carbon filter, but when the trailer is full, it has to be changed. This occurs once or twice a day and involves opening the doors to the building, removing the full trailer and replacing it with an empty one. This takes 30-45 minutes and could potentially produce an odour detectable away from the site.
To tackle this, an action plan has been agreed with Tulip:

• Tulip have installed a new cleaning station and have implemented regular housekeeping of the ABP waste area.
• Tulip, along with the ABP waste contractor, have agreed to cover the full trailer before removing it from the ABP storage building.
• Tulip are instigating a procedure to regularly check that the carbon filter is operating effectively.

The Environment Agency will continue to work with Tulip to improve all areas of odour control. However, if you are disturbed by odours which you believe to be from the abattoir, they ask you to:

• Contact Dominic Sugrue of Tulip in the first instance (0117 957 6056, Dominic.Sugrue@tulipltd.co.uk) . Tulip are obliged to investigate, they must also record details of the complaint and their response. This information can be audited by the Environment Agency.
• If the odour persists and the response is unsatisfactory, please also report the odour to the Agency’s hotline (0800 80 70 60).

Latest on Westerleigh smell

During the summer more smells were reported in Westerleigh village, which appeared to be linked to hydrogen sulphide in the sewers. All those involved have been working hard to find a solution. At the end of October, Tulip started using a new chemical to dose their effluent, which has reduced the levels of the gas in their rising main. They will continue to use this while they work with the Environment Agency and independent experts to find a more permanent solution.

Westerleigh smell recurrence

Thank you to those who have reported the smells coming from the sewers in Westerleigh in recent weeks. Unfortunately there have been problems with hydrogen sulphide gas in the sewers. The Environment Agency, Wessex Water and Tulip (the owners of the abattoir) are all working to find a solution as quickly as they can. If you want to report an incident, please call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60. This is free to call from landlines and operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Westerleigh smell update

After residents, the Parish Council and Claire Young met Wessex Water on site in November, the water company took a number of actions. Odour loggers were installed at the discharge points from the Kidney Hill and abattoir pumping stations from 12th Dec to 8th Jan 2013. No hydrogen sulphide was detected at the former but the other logger failed, probably due to being 'drowned out' during high flows in the sewer following extremely heavy rainfall. Wessex will reinstall when the weather improves.

A smell complaint in Newman Close was traced to a cracked pipe and sump which was retaining sewage. This will be replaced. Wessex Water are currently investigating a sewage flooding incident in a garden in the village.

Westerleigh sewers meeting

There have been significantly fewer reports of bad odours in Westerleigh village this summer compared to previous years. Some of the smells that have occurred have been described as "sewage" and coming from the drains so Claire and local residents will be meeting Wessex Water and council officers at 10am on Thursday 8th November to see what can be done to address these issues. The Environment Agency have continued to work closely with the abattoir and confirm that they are using "Best Available Techniques".

If you smell a bad odour, please report it to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60, which is free from landlines. If you are concerned it is coming from the abattoir, please also call Tulip on 0117 957 1919.

Plans for chemical dosing kiosk at Kidney Hill

Claire Young with the temporary dosing tank

Wessex Water has applied for planning permission for a permanent chemical dosing kiosk at Kidney Hill. This will replace the temporary solution that was put in place at the end of 2010 to stop bad odours in the vicinity of Broad Lane caused by sewage in the rising main. You can view the plans and make comments on the South Glos website.

Westerleigh odour update

The following update has been agreed with all involved following the most recent meeting of the Odour Working Group:

Westerleigh Parish Council’s Odour Working Group met on 16^th November following an increase in reported smells in the late summer. All reports are logged and when analysed the data showed a general pattern of smell reports building up through a week, with most reports on late Thursday and Friday. However, it was noted that there have been no reports since early September.

The Management Team at Tulip advised that since March of this year they have carried out a daily ‘sniff test’, which they record in a log. Since identifying an effluent tank filter failure in the summer, Tulip has invested around £8,000 in a new five stage filtration system to replace the old one. The filters change colour to warn that they need replacing and because there are multiple filters, even if one does fail it should not lead to odours escaping.

Wessex Water has received no reports of occurrences directly. Dosing is continuing at Kidney Hill pumping station and nothing has changed. They again confirmed that there is adequate flow capacity within the sewer system.

Whilst the situation again seems to be improving, it is vital that local residents report any odour occurrences as they happen. If it is reported immediately, persons can be on site very quickly to try to establish the cause. When reporting any odours please be descriptive as possible and as accurate as you can about the time and location.

For all smells call:

Environment Agency’s 24 hours a day 365 days a year freephone number 0800 80 70 60.

If you think it may be coming from the abattoir, please also call:

Tulip Ltd 0117 957 1919

If you think it may be coming from the sewers, please also call:

Wessex Water 0845 600 4 600

You might also like to inform:

Westerleigh Parish Clerk  Fiona Thornton on 01454 864433 or email westerleighpc@btinternet.com

District Councillor Claire Young on 01454 864086 or email claire.young@southglos.gov.uk