Efforts underway to address enduring smell issue in Calne
MP Sarah Gibson visits site linked to odour problem
Calne's MP says she's been given assurances that efforts to tackle an odour issue in the town are being stepped up.
A strong smell has been affecting local people, leading to hundreds of complaints to the Environment Agency.
It's been coming from the waste recycling centre nearby, managed by Hills Waste Solutions.
Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Gibson has called for action to be taken to address the issue that's been ongoing for the last year. She visited the Hills site in Calne on Tuesday to learn more about the action they're taking.
Site Visit and Actions Taken
During her visit to the site, Ms Gibson noted that the management showed openness to addressing the concerns, describing them as "incredibly receptive."
"They showed me right round the site," Gibson said. "I got to see where the problem is, what the issues is with the cell that they've got that's open."
Ms Gibson also observed ongoing work aimed at improving gas extraction and covering methods, which were initiated last summer.
"They're also looking at what type of products they bring into the site and in what concentrations, all of which they are fairly confident will help to stop the problems that we've seen over the last couple of weeks," Ms Gibson said.
Challenges of Scale
The MP acknowledged the complexity involved in resolving the issue due to the scale of the operation.
"This is a very large site and we all want recycling. We all have elements that we put into landfill, so we need these sites and because of the scale of the operation, it does take time to make sure that it works," she noted.
Ms Gibson expressed empathy for the residents dealing with the smell but remained optimistic about finding a solution.
"I'm sure that as somebody dealing with the smell and having to live with it, I certainly feel that they probably could and I think now that we've got them on a position where they are engaged with this.
"The Environment Agency is also looking into it. I'm confident that if we keep the pressure on, they will come to a solution," she said.
Encouraging Community Engagement
Ms Gibson urged the people of Carne to continue reporting incidents of unpleasant odour to aid the Environment Agency's efforts.
"It's really important that they have the evidence and the data that back up the problem. Also, if you report it and say exactly what time and when it happened and where, that also gives them a better idea about what it is that's causing it," Gibson advised.