Sludge Watch ==> Royston UK - odour problems from sludge?

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Water companies told to sort out source of smell
31 August 2006
EDITORIAL - news at royston-crow.co.uk

COUNCILLORS have caused a stink over a smell which has been lingering in the 
atmosphere around Royston for months.

They wanted to know the cause of the smell and what steps arebeing taken to 
ensure it disappears.

Representatives from Anglian Water and Thames Water were questioned at a 
meeting of North Herts District Council's Royston area committee.

And, in the end, both water companies promised to monitor the situation and 
report to the committee in six months' time.

The companies were urged to explain the situation after a 2,000-signature 
petition had been presented to the committee calling for an end to the smell 
which has lingered near to the A505 bypass in recent months.

Anglian Water representative Paul Tovell - his company is responsible for 
the sewage works in Royston - said that he did not believe his company was 
responsible for the recent smell.

This could mean that the smell came from sludge which was stockpiled on 
farmland around Royston although Thames Water representative Henry Grace 
said this should be ploughed into the land within 24 hours of delivery.

But such work depended on weather conditions and the sludge could remain 
untreated for a long period, he admitted.

Cllr Sarah Wren, the district council's portfolio holder for environmental 
health, said the problem of the smell had "effected the quality of life" of 
residents.

http://www.herts24.co.uk/content/crow/news/story.aspx?brand=ROYWestOnline&category=News&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newsroynew&itemid=WEED31%20Aug%202006%2012%3A32%3A35%3A843