YORKSHIRE WATER has hinted at plans to establish a ‘Community Fund’ as a way of compensating local residents for problems caused by the smells from the Waste Water Treatment Works at Saltend.
In the Hull Daily Mail yesterday Yorkshire Water’s Matt Thompson was quoted as saying:
“We are keenly aware that we have had to rely on the patience and understanding of local residents for a number of years on this matter. We have therefore agreed, as a gesture of goodwill to the local community, to create a community fund to help support local projects that benefit the Hedon and Preston neighbourhood. We hope it will be administered by a community liaison panel made up of councillors and local community groups.”
The idea of a ‘Community Chest’ was first mooted by Councillor John Dennis last year. On the 5th August 2011, he and fellow ward Councillor Mike Bryan met with Yorkshire Water about the offensive smells (Councillor Ann Suggit was away at the time). Councillor Dennis commented about the meeting on the Hedon Blog:
“As arranged at that first meeting, I will be holding discussions with YW’s head of communications in the expectation of securing some form of compensation package for the local community. It would surely not be unreasonable for us to expect them to come up with a positive, tangible gesture to show how sorry they really are!”
And yesterday he commented on the latest news: “I had suggested some form of Community Chest into which local communities might be able to dip for valid local projects. Parishes have always got something they would like financial help with – village hall improvements and re-builds etc. Hedon is having lots of problems with the Horsewell Pond which no longer holds water. They are the sort of project I would envisage being able to qualify for consideration, however we’ll have to wait and see what’s on the table. I look forward with great interest to hear how it will work, and how much it will actually contain. I hope there are plenty of noughts in the figure!”
The idea of a Community Fund would seem to be a good idea. Local community and environmental projects could obviously benefit from such a fund. Although some residents would have liked to have seen the compensation represented in the form of lower water bills! However, as Councillor Dennis says, it will be interesting to see how many noughts there are in the figure! Enough noughts, and perhaps the ‘pot’ could be used to attract further funding!
The idea of a Community Liaison Panel to administer the fund with community group representation is also a positive suggestion. In fact something like this might be an opportunity to bring local community groups together to make project suggestions and nominate panel members.
The Yorkshire Water smells brought communities together in anger. Perhaps a Community Fund can bring them together to make things better!?
I have been saying for years that some of the larger polluting Businesses located along Hedon road should offer something back to the community. The loss of Destiny fitness was in my opinion a great shame. It would be fantastic as a 2012 Olympic legacy to get that whole site developed into a multi use sports facility. It could include a state of the art Gymnasium, Studios for fitness classes. And maybe an olympic swimming pool. Fitness and Sport is a great way to bring communities together, keep children off the streets, and most importantly improve peoples health and wellbeing. I for one would be intrested in becoming a driving force behind a project like this.
In reply to your post John it is rather strange our councillors are absent however I would put myself forward as some kind of liaison in the the absence of our local councillors if need be, I fully understand different areas were affected worse than others but if Yorkshire Water are offering a compensation scheme for the local area I think we should grab it with both hands and use it to boost our areas it’s not often company’s will act like this and I personally think this is the least YW should be doing
Good point well made Jamie, and I’ll take it on board. As you’ll appreciate my job is to represent the residents of Hedon, Preston, Paull and Thorngumbald, and that’s what I’ll continue to do, however, does it not prompt the question ‘ Where are the ward councillors in Hull who should be looking after the interests of the residents of Greatfield and Marfleet etc?’ Conspicuous by their absence!
Why not put yourself forward for this liaison group when things start to develop?
John Dennis – Ward Cllr. S.W.Holderness
I think it’s a great gesture by yorkshire water but what about the residents of east hull as the crow flys great field estate is closer to the pong then Hedon.
Valid point Jamie – Greatfield, Marfleet and lots of nearby Holderness villages experienced horrible smells during summer 2011 – with many people being adversely affected.
I think the ‘area of benefit’ for any compensation fund has to be looked at carefully.
It is probably true to say that Hedon and Preston have had the most recorded odour incidents since the site was built in 2000.
I agree with parts of that Ray however it needs looking at before anything is set in stone at the end of the day we have all endured it and all areas affected should be compensated in one way or another
Hi Jamie,
I hope you don’t mind me contacting you. I’m an assistant producer on the Horror Homes 2 TV series. We would love to speak to you about the stench of sewage near your home. If you would like to chat with me, please do respond with your number and email address so we can get in touch! I am looking for stories to film for Series 2. Best wishes, Jade
Jade Prince
jade.prince@crackitproductions.co.uk