RESIDENTS FUMING OVER FACTORY
PETITION LAUNCHED OVER THE ‘ODIOUS’ SMELLS FROM SITE
NEIGHBOURS of a factory have launched a petition against the “odious” odour it emits.
People who live near the Colours Dyers factory, in Greenhithe Road, Aylestone, said its chimneys are pumping out a stench which is preventing them enjoying their homes and gardens.
One resident said: “The fumes at times are so odious they prevent people remaining in their gardens, force them to bring in any washing and to keep their windows shut.”
A spokesman for the factory told the Mercury the company has had engineers on site searching for a solution to the problem.
He said: “We’re doing some running tests, so the engineers are on site already. They’re addressing it as we speak and that’s all we can do at this stage.”
Leicester’s Green Party has urged Leicester City Council to take action, saying it is a pollution issue.
However, the local authority said its powers in the matter were “very limited”, because the Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for monitoring emissions from the factory.
Bob Ball, the local Green Party spokesman, said: “The council should be monitoring the situation. Councillors should be meeting with residents and agreeing remedies.
“If necessary, the council should serve abatement notices, as well as brokering meetings with the factory operator and the EA on an urgent basis to stop the fumes from the factory, which are making many people’s lives unbearable.
“All residents ask is to be able to enjoy their homes and gardens.”
A council spokesman said: “The city council has had five complaints this year about smells from the factory.
“Although we are not the enforcement agency in these cases, we have asked residents to let us know when the nuisance happens again so we can endeavour to collect evidence.
“It is the Environment Agency, not the city council, which holds responsibility for making sure that emissions from this factory are at a safe level.
“While we will happily pass evidence directly to the EA, we do urge residents to report the matter directly to it on 0800 80 70 60.
“Our powers to address this on a local level are very limited.”
The neighbours and the Green Party said they were planning to submit the petition to the council at a future Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Commission.
The Mercury contacted the Environment Agency about the matter, and was told it had not received any complaints about the factory and was not investigating the matter.
The fumes prevent people remaining in their gardens, force them to keep their windows shut Resident