Agenda item

(To receive a report from Brian Kane, Anglian Water, which provides the Committee with an update of the situation regarding odours from the Ingoldmells, Spalding, Fishtoft and Boston Water Recycling Works)

Consideration was given to a report which provided a summary of the situation regarding odours from the Ingoldmells, Spalding, Fishtoft and Boston Water Recycling Centres (previously Sewage Treatment Works).  It was reported that Ingoldmells was first brought to the attention of the Committee in November 2012, with further reports in 2013, 2014 and 2015.  Spalding was considered by the Committee in 2014 and 2015 and Boston in 2016.

Members were guided through the report by Brian Kane, Regional Treatment Manager, Anglian Water Services and were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised included the following:

·         Sites were named according to where they received their sewage from, rather than where the site was located.

·         In relation to odours in Boston, it was reported that this was due to the works, but from cake which had been stored as the weather conditions during the summer of 2015 had been inappropriate.  It was queried why this amount of cake had been stored, and whether any other arrangements for storage should have been made.  Members were advised that there were generally no odours from cake when it was left as it formed a crust which retained any odours, but it was when it was moved that the odours were released.  During the time it was being stored, it had been moved around a lot.

·         It was queried what the latest situation was with the power station which was going to be partly fuelled by some of the cake from Boston.  It was reported that Anglian Water would instead be using the cake to produce their own bio fuel, as it was not worthwhile commercially for the power stations to use it.

·         It was commented that it was positive that Councillor Skinner from Boston Borough Council had visited the site at Boston to see how odour issues were being tackled.

·         It was noted that odour complaints were received across the Anglian region, but they were generally not about cake.  It was noted that people often assumed that the cake was the cause of odours as it was very visual, but due to the way it was treated it would not generally cause odours.  Members were advised that Anglian Water would always follow up on any complaints.

·         In relation to Ingoldmells, it was reported that a lot of people did not complain any more as they did not see it as beneficial.  There were concerns that holiday makers would visit and then not return due to odour issues in the area.  It was accepted that the situation had deteriorated over the past 6 months.  The importance of getting people to complain if there were issues was highlighted, as it was useful evidence when trying to get investment there was a need to build up a business case.

·         It was highlighted that odours had been particularly bad in the Spalding area and were blowing across towards the food processing factories. Members were advised to contact Anglian Water if they became aware of any issues in relation to odours in their areas.  It was requested whether Brian Kane could look into this further and bring an update back to this meeting in March.

·         It was queried whether, as the solid content of sodium nitrate had been identified as the problem at Ingoldmells, could this be the cause at Spalding as well.

·         It was reported that Anglian Water was looking at installing an intelligent monitoring system which would give greater visibility of where there were any issues.  This system would be implemented in the coming months.

RESOLVED

1.    That the content of the report be noted.

2.    That Brian Kane, Anglian Water come back to the meeting in March 2017 with an update on the odour issues in Spalding.