ODOUR INVESTIGATION WADBOROUGH PARK FARM

Public Meeting Wychavon District Council

17th November 2011

Complaints Summary• 64 complainants

• Approximately 300 reports of odour

• 10 officers involved in investigation

• Approximately 800 officer hours

• Multi-agency working with The Environment Agency, Animal Health and Defra

Timeline• June 2011 – complaints received by WRS regarding

odour in Stoulton area• July 2011 – Cleansing Services Group (CSG) relocated

operation on farm further away from Stoulton• August 2011 – manure store/slurry pit emptied and

ploughed in following identification as odour source• September 2011 – gypsum noted as being used as

bedding material during visit with EA• October 2011 – visit to farm with agricultural odour

specialist• October 2011 – ceased use of gypsum as bedding• November 2011 – CSG operation on farm suspended

OVERVIEW

• Complaints from residents in Hawbridge, Stoulton, Claverton and Littleworth

• All contacts logged and comments recorded• Wadborough Park Farm identified as the source

of the problem• Wadborough Park Farm is a large scale beef

farm with up to 3000 cattle• Little history of odour complaints in previous

years at this location

Potential Sources of Odour

• Cleansing Services Group – injection of septic tank waste

• Manure store/slurry pit

• Use of gypsum as bedding material

• Use and impact of spring onion leaf as cattle feed

Outcomes of investigation

• Relocation of CSG operation on farm• Manure store/slurry pit emptied and

ploughed in• Increased frequency of scraping out of

soiled areas of livestock buildings• Improved level of housekeeping in

livestock buildings• CSG ceased operation at Wadborough

Park Farm beginning of November

Report from agricultural specialist -recommendations (if problem persists)

• Increased frequency of cleaning of livestock buildings

• Consider covering the manure store/slurry pit or use of an anaerobic digester

• Follow the Code of Practice for manure spreading

• Consider keeping animal feed in covered tanks/silos

Legal Background

• Environmental Protection Act 1990• Smell from agricultural units and

agricultural land exempt from odour provisions

• Only act if odour caused by animals not being kept properly

• Animal Health visits show husbandry standards are acceptable, no significant issues

Other considerations

• Very dry weather conditions

• WRS taking informal action due to consistent cooperation by farmers during the investigation

• Regulator’s Compliance Code – phased approach to enforcement

Ongoing Activities

• Targeted daily monitoring by WRS officers after withdrawal of CSG from Wadborough Park Farm

• Sending regular email updates to residents

Next Steps

• Maintain communication with farmer to give WRS advanced warning of farming activities which may cause odour: emptying of slurry pit, slurry spreading etc.

• Continue to liaise with other agencies

• Continue to respond to complaints

• Proactive monitoring

Contact Details

Steve Jorden (Head of Regulatory Services)

s.jorden@worcsregservices.gov.uk

01527 881466

Lisa Roberts (Community Protection Manager)

lisa.roberts@worcesregservices.gov.uk

01527 548267