The operator of an animal rendering plant near Denholme says its plans for a new “bio filter bed” could bring an end to the smells that have blighted the area for years.

Omega Proteins at Erling Works, Half Acre Road, has been accused by many residents of Thornton and Denholme of releasing “unbearable” smells in the air through its rendering processes.

The problem had got so bad that in June Bradford Council gave the company a six-month deadline to deal with the smells or it would look into enforcement action.

The company now thinks it has a solution – to build another piece of odour-busting technology called a bio filter bed. There are already two at the plant, but the company admits these can “barely” cope with treating the smells produced by the plant.

Earlier this year the company applied to build a 392 square metre bed next to the existing ones.

Plans for the bed originally came before the Council’s regulatory and appeals committee in July, and attracted a huge amount of opposition from residents and constituency MP Philip Davies (Con, Shipley).

They claimed the company had not complied with previous applications, and no more expansions of the factory should be allowed.

The decision was deferred for the company to provide more information on why the extra bed was needed, and whether there was any alternative that would not require building on a green belt site.

Omega Protein has now released its report on its efforts to reduce odours from the plant, and the Council’s environmental health department agrees it is good enough proof that the new bed is needed.

The company says the existing beds are “barely large enough” to treat air from the plant and a third bed would remove many of the smells associated with the company. It would also relieve pressure when one of the existing beds was being cleaned, the company says.

Reacting to the report, the Council’s environmental health service said: “We are satisfied that the company’s application to install a third bio filter bed should represent significant improvement in off-site odours.”

Council planners have recommended the application be approved.

The meeting takes place next Thursday at Bradford City Hall at 10am.