Be warned – muck pong is spreading

Hot weather and chicken manure could be a stinky combination and are coming this way

A smell from muck-spreading is moving towards Ashford after weeks of complaints from residents on Romney Marsh.

Businesses and residents said the “horrendous” and persistent smell meant they could not open their windows or even site outside.

Shepway District Council said that not so many complaints have come in this week but that the muck-spreaing was now taking place nearer to Ashford.

A spokesman said: “The spreading of chicken manure has continued up until this week but we have had fewer complaints. The farmer continues to work within controls governing muck- spreading. The muck-spreading has now moved to land closer to Ashford.”

Efforts were made by the farmer to try to stop the smell from lingering.

This included employing two tractors to spread the manure and one behind to dig it into the ground.

The council also said that he agreed to do it at the start of the week so that it didn’t affect people visiting the district on weekends.

The spokesman added: “This method doesn’t eliminate the smell completely.

“The odour will dissipate in time, but the dispersal rate is dependant on the weather and at the moment the heat and the lack of wind means that the smells are not being dispersed as in most recent years.”

Muck-spreading is a yearly feature of the farming calendar, and this year’s warmer weather is being blamed for the pong being worse than usual.

Tony Hills, who owns the Seagull Fishing Tackle premises in Greatstone, claimed the stench was driving away tourism on Romney Marsh. The warmer weather in September has come as a surprise to many, with the hottest September day on record for 50 years on Tuesday.

Figures reported by our sister publication Kent Business show that visitor numbers are up three times on last year due to the Indian summer.

Can you smell the muck? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk

Hold your noses - the stink of muck-spreading is heading this way