Councillors are calling on the Government to get involved in ending a nasty niff pervading Castle Point.

Residents in Hadleigh and Benfleet have had to endure a nauseating smell for months. Furious locals are inundating Castle Point Council with complaints.

Pong centre - Pitsea tip complaints are rife Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Now council members are supporting a full investigation into the pong, which is believed to come from the Cleanaway tip in Pitsea.

Bill Dick (Con, St Peter's) said: "We felt evidence from Cleanaway and from the Environment Agency should all be looked at.

"A lot of the residents are suffering from this smell and we need to eradicate it. Some people fear the smell may be affecting their health and we want to make sure the problem is solved.

"There have also been suggestions parts of the odour could come from sources other than Pitsea tip."

The investigation will look at the causes of the problems and proposals to solve them.

Alan Longford, health and housing director at the council, said: "People are calling the council to complain about the smell.

"However, it is part of the Environment Agency's jurisdiction and there is not much the council can do."

Tim Sheppard, senior environment officer at the Environment Agency, said: "We are more than happy to talk to Castle Point Council and supply any data they need.

"Ultimately, we have the same goal of environment protection."

A spokeswoman for Cleanaway said: "If the council wanted to carry out any kind of assessment we would co-operate with that."

Published Tuesday, June 17, 2003

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