THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING at which the petition on Yorkshire Water’s Smells was presented, have now been published. Minute 25 relating to the petition are reproduced below:
25 PETITION 04/11 – SMELLS FROM YORKSHIRE WATER TREATMENT WORKS, SALTEND
The Sub-Committee received a petition presented by Mr Ray Duffill, resident of Hedon, stating that the persistent odours from the Yorkshire Water Waste Water Treatment Works at Saltend was a nuisance, prejudicial to health and interfered with the personal comfort of the community. Residents considered that the odours from the Yorkshire Water Waste Water Treatment Works at Saltend was a statutory nuisance and should be dealt with as such by the both East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council.
Two petitions had been set up by the residents, one online and one via paper copies. 1,371 people had signed the paper copy petition and 1,034 people had signed e-petition, a total of 2,405 signatures.
In addition to the petition a wall of shame was created upon which people were asked to describe their experience of the smells with 118 individual comments being posted. Campaigners had also submitted some anecdotal evidence about effects on the their health from the bad odours. It was also noted that this summer had seen the highest number of complaints received by the Council from resident exasperated by the continual foul odours emitting from the waste treatment plant.
The Sub-Committee thanked Mr Duffill for presenting the petition.
Councillor Bryan and Suggit, both Ward Councillors for South West Holderness, were invited to address the Sub-Committee and leant their support to the petition.
The Sub-Committee empathised with the residents of Hedon and noted their concerns, a situation that had been ongoing for nearly 11 years. It was noted that Yorkshire Water was now in dialogue with residents of Hedon to discuss the issue of compensation.
The Council was currently investigating the possibility of serving a “Statutory Nuisance” notice on Yorkshire Water and, as the issue was one not just confined to residents in the East Riding, was also in consultation with Hull City Council. The Council would shortly be in receipt of Yorkshire Water’s Fault Report. Following receipt of this report and further investigation it was hoped officers would be able to present their findings to the Sub-Committee in the near future.
Officers were requested to look into the matter further as a matter of urgency requested that a suitable representative from Yorkshire Water management be invited to address the Sub-Committee on the matter at a future meeting.
Agreed it be recommended:
(a) That the petition be noted;
(b) that officers investigate the possibility of serving a “Statutory Nuisance” notice on Yorkshire Water in consultation with Hull City Council;
(c) that upon receipt of the Fault Report and further investigation, officers present their findings to the Sub-Committee in the near future, and
(d) that a suitable representative from Yorkshire Water management be invited to address the Sub-Committee on the matter at a future meeting.
Find a full copy of the minutes at the East Riding Council website at Environment and Regeneration.