Environment Agency investigates Westbury odour complaints

Government agents are investigating new reports of a bad smell in Westbury, which is troubling local noses once again.

The long-running saga of the Westbury Whiff dates back to at least 2014 and can be traced to the Northacre Mechanical Biological Treatment plant on Stephenson Road, which is run by Hills Waste Solutions.
Waste at the site is turned into solid recovered fuel, which can then be used by renewable energy plants to generate power.

Back in 2021 the Environment Agency received more than 500 complaints in six months, and said the odour was strong enough to take enforcement action against the site operator – although ultimately it decided not to.

In September, the agency said Hills was “not taking all appropriate measures to reduce odour and remained in breach of its permit conditions.”

Hills said it took odour concerns “very seriously and was working with the EA to get the smell under control.”

Now the Environment Agency is back in the market town, after receiving a growing number of odour complaints starting in March.

“Our officers have been undertaking additional odour-rounds in response to reports,” confirmed a spokesperson.

“Odours in residential areas have typically been very faint/faint and transient in nature and dependent on the weather conditions.

“We are requiring the operator to make improvements to the odour control measures on site.”

A spokesperson for Hills said, “Hills continues to work with the Environment Agency to ensure odour issues are minimised.”