Something just does not smell right here...

RESIDENTS who have been suffering from a foul odour on their estates for longer than many care to remember might get a crumb of comfort from the recent update from Severn Trent.

Those at the top of the hill have been working with the water provider for more than two years to identify the source of an unpleasant pong that has been tricky to locate.

Severn Trent has now said that “some parties” might have “contributed” to the problem and they are working with them to sort it. But the message is a bit on the vague side. For the sake of the dozens, if not hundreds of people that this has affected, you’d think we might deserve a little bit more information.

Zelia Lockett said “some parties” have found “some areas” where they need to complete “some work” to ensure they’re not contributing to the smell. What’s being hidden here, and why is it being hidden?

We’ve been assured “these parties” haven’t put a foot wrong when it comes to their compliance and no laws have been broken. So what on earth is wrong with naming “these parties”? And does “these parties” refer to a group of people within one organisation? Or to a group of organisations?

We challenged Severn Trent on this and were told there would be no elaboration because of “data protection”, which seems a rather confusing ingredient for the smokescreen.

Either way, whoever or whatever is responsible has a moral duty to stand up and apologise to the families who have been affected by this unfortunate issue.

It sounds like a complete accident or a set of unavoidable circumstances is to blame and it’s good to hear that every step is being taken to sort it. But without a personal promise from the “culprits” this assurance carries little weight.