A new policy to tackle foul odours throughout the district could soon make Bradford a better smelling place.
In recent years, Bradford Council has had to deal with various complaints about odours, most recently relating to two sites, Associated Waste Management on Canal Road and Omega Proteins in Denholme.
Both companies have recently taken steps to improve the smells, but the issue remains a regular item on council agendas.
Now councillors have called for the authority to adopt an “odour management plan” that would set out how they should deal with any smell-related issue.
And it would include small businesses like takeaways as well as the larger waste and animal rendering plants.
In July a report was presented to the council’s Environment and Waste Management scrutiny committee regarding the AWM premises, and the problems it was causing residents. One councillor who spoke at the meeting, Mohammad Shabbir, thinks drawing up a plan to deal with smells is necessary.
He said: “In some places there have been continuous smells for the last 20 or 30 years, and some days these smells can blow around the city.
“We don’t want people put off coming to Bradford because of things like this. At the moment we are dealing with issues one at a time without thinking of the combined effect on the district.
“We could use the policy to guide us with any new businesses that could cause problems for their neighbours – it would be useful to link to the planning system, and it might allow us to review existing facilities.
“It could be used for small scale things like if there should be a flat above a takeaway. A strategy could be important in cases where there are busy streets with a lot of take aways on them.”
Coun Martin Love said: “We have two ongoing issues in the form of AMW and Omega Proteins as well as other issues at other plants around Bradford. This is a different way of dealing with things, rather than being reactive we are setting out a policy first that we can then show to companies. Of course we’ll have to see if there are any legal limitations on this.”
Lynnette Cadamarteri set up the group Stop Omega Stink in protest to the Denholme rendering plant. She welcomed any move by the council, but warned it would have to be enforced. She said: “If they come up with a new strategy then great, but unless environmental health officers take action on breeches what is the point?”
The committee meets at Bradford City Hall on Tuesday at 5.20pm.
The committee will also discuss recent complaints from the AWM site in a separate agenda item.
Last month the company submitted an odour management, which is being reviewed. The company has also pledged to improve the building to prevent the release of smells.
On Thursday Omega Proteins were granted planning permission to build a new “bio filter bed” which they say will reduce odours.