Campaigners who claim their lives are blighted by a waste processing company have welcomed Bradford Council’s decision to review its regulation of the business.

The authority is to review enforcement action taken against Omega Proteins, which has an animal rendering plant at Erlings Works, Thornton, after a petition signed by more than 240 residents living near the site was submitted to full council.

A motion tabled by Conservative group leader Councillor Glen Miller calling on the council to take action against alleged on-going environmental issues relating to the site was also approved by members at the meeting.

The Stop Omega Stink Resident Action Group, which represents residents in Thornton, Well Heads, Keelham and Denholme, submitted the petition, claiming alleged excessive and out-of-hours lorry movements to and from the site have caused “unnecessary stress” to householders and have not been adequately addressed by the Council.

The group has also raised concerns over spillages of animal waste and alleged out-of-hours plant operation.

Bev Barker, of Queensbury-based Swalesmoor Action Group, which has also raised concerns about the company, said: “We are very pleased, but I am surprised it’s taken so long for the councillors to do something. It’s been a problem for a long time and residents have been asking for help for a long time. Obviously we are very, very relieved that the councillors are now taking this seriously.”

A spokesman for parent company the Leo Group, which was last year ordered by Bradford Crown Court to pay more than £40,000 in costs and fines for offal spillages in the district by another of its subsidiaries, Alba Transport, said: “The company has not seen the petition, but is very disappointed to learn from the Telegraph & Argus that Bradford Council have chosen to pursue a course of action in relation to a petition which may affect the livelihood of its employees without any prior consultation or contact with the company.”

Councillor Miller also called for chief executive Tony Reeves to hold a meeting with the company and its main suppliers to discuss ways to reduce the negative impact of the plant’s operation and for a report to be prepared the Council’s environment and waste scrutiny committee.