It’s not us, says water firm in row over stink

‘Muck spreading from nearby farmland behind bad smells’

A water company has denied the stench wafting over Ashford is down to sewage at a water treatment plant in the town.

Residents had claimed smells of sewage were drifting over the town from the Southern Water works off Kinney’s Lane in Kennington were so bad they had been forced to light candles and close doors and windows in their homes.

But Ashford Borough Council, which said it had been contacted about bad odours, added it believed the bad whiff was coming from muck spreading from nearby farmland.

A spokesman said it had been unable to “pinpoint a particular source”.

It follows complaints from residents on Romney Marsh for several weeks throughout the summer about a bad smell.

Shepway District Council has confirmed that so many complaints had been made that muck-spreading on farms on the Marsh had moved closer to Ashford. An Ashford council spokesman said: “We have received a report regarding an odour suspected to be from the Ashford Wastewater Treatment Works managed by Southern Water.

“We are aware of the situation but are unable to pinpoint a particular source, or confirm whether the waste water treatment works could have contrib- uted towards the smell.

“It could be linked to the spreading of sewage sludge or manure on agricultural land, however this cannot be confirmed.”

Southern Water denied there were any issues at the site between Ashford Rugby Club and the M20.

A spokesman for the water company said: “There are no problems at our Ashford site, and everything is working as it should. The smell is probably due to muck spreading in the local area. This can produce unpleasant smells, particularly in hot weather but is completely harmless.

“The waste water treatment process produces a by-product which is used as fertiliser on farmland.

“Haulage companies transport this fertiliser from our Ashford works, as well as sites owned by neighbouring water companies, to a number of farms in the area.”

Waste water treatment plants like the one operated by Southern Water in Kennington are regulated by the Environment Agency which deals with environmental issues and incidents, the spokesman added.

Anyone concerned about smells from waste water treatment works can contact the EA on 0800 80 70 60.

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