Bosses at a sewage treatment plant have rejected public fears new building work could lead to more foul smells in the air.
Villagers believe Stambridge Sewage Treatment Works on the fringe of Rochford plans to process a greater volume of sewage which will increase smells from the plant.
Stambridge Parish Council claims major work to process a lot more sewage is already taking place.
However, Anglian Water, which runs the Stambridge Road plant, reject the claims and said the work is routine maintenance.
At a Rochford District Council environment overview and scrutiny meeting last night Tory Phil Capon showed a video of what he claimed was the work.
He said: "It was filmed from the public footpath and shows pipes three or four feet in diameter.
"The noise from the site has been astronomical recently, and you use pipes that size only for something big."
Anglian Water insist expansion work is not taking place.
A spokesman said: "I have spoken to the site manager and he said the pipes are there for basic maintenance."
Published Thursday January 22, 2004
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