Billericay and Wickford MP, John Baron, is kicking up a stink over complaints of bad smells and nuisance gases from Pitsea Tip.

He is demanding answers from the Government's environment minister, Michael Meacher, after complaints from residents in the towns over the stench generated from the site.

The Environment Agency has also had numerous reports of unpleasant odours by residents across Basildon, Canvey plus North Benfleet, and is now working with the tip's operators, Cleanaway, to solve the problem.

Mr Baron has welcomed the move but he is still demanding answers to several of his letters to Mr Meacher, over the possible health risks the gas emissions pose.

He said: 'The agency's work is a step in the right direction but I am still very concerned about the risk to public health from the gas emissions and believe independent assessments need to be undertaken as to the possible dangers.

'The issues I have raised in these letters particularly relating to the gas emissions from this landfill site have taken on an added poignancy recently as there have been a growing number of complaints from constituents over odours and smells from the site.'

A spokesman for the Environment agency said: 'We have been working closely with Cleanaway and have identified a number of matters that require improvement at the tip.

'Some obvious odour hot spots were sealed within a few days of being identified, however some areas of the site will require more extensive work and this will take several months to complete properly.

'The work will essentially comprise of covering an area of the site with a final layer of waste followed by capping with clay in order to seal it.'

Published Friday, April 11, 2003

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