Animal rendering plant responds - as MP calls for it to be shut down over bad smells

Yahoo

3 days ago

A BRADFORD business has said it "makes every effort to minimise odours" - after an MP urged the Council to take steps to shut its operations down amid concerns about bad smells.
For years, residents and businesses have complained about odours allegedly linked to the P Waddington animal rendering plant, off Hammerton Street.
This week, Imran Hussain, Bradford East Labour MP, wrote to Bradford Council demanding that it looks at the legal options it can take against Waddington & Co (1947) Ltd, with a view to closing its operations.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of the Council, said the 'very offensive smells are hugely frustrating' for the area and 'need to stop'.
P Waddington has been based in the city since the 1880s, and is one of just a handful of animal by-product rendering facilities in the UK.
Dead animals and animal parts - such as bone, offal and hooves - are transported to the site from across the country and then recycled into energy and biofuels.
P Waddington - which is owned by Sheffield-based company J G Pears Group - said it "understands concerns of residents and businesses located close to our facility", adding that its "operations are within the strict requirements of our environmental permit and odour management plan".
'Lives blighted'
Mr Hussain told the Telegraph & Argus: "For years I have been campaigning for Waddingtons to take action and deal with the foul odours and long-standing concerns of local residents, whose lives have been seriously blighted.
"I've written to Bradford Council demanding that they look at all the legal options available to deal with Waddington & Co, with a view to closing down their operation."
He said the Council "must look at legal options to act decisively in the public interest".
Bradford East MP Imran Hussain (Image: Parliament) He added: "This is not just unpleasant for residents - it's a serious public health issue.
"For years, residents have had their lives made a misery.
"I'm informed it's getting worse: more frequent, more intense, and more disruptive.
"We need a legal solution to fix this situation.
"I'm also calling on Bradford City Council to have an urgent debate on this and consider all legal option available."
Cllr Hinchcliffe told the T&A: "The very offensive smells are hugely frustrating for the local community and for the wider district and need to stop.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council (Image: Newsquest) "We are making so many improvements to the city centre that we now expect everyone to step up, play their part and clean up their act.
"As leader, I want to make sure Council officers are doing all they can to hold those responsible to account and I will ask them to look at what more we can do.
"We'll be replying to the MP, who has consistently made his views very clear on this matter, more formally in due course."
'We make every effort to minimise odours'
Alistair Collins, a director at P Waddington, said: "We would like to highlight that we continue to be open to meeting the MP and community representatives to discuss this matter.
"We understand the concerns of residents and businesses located close to our facility.
"We also recognise the inherent challenges of a site in such a built-up area; however, the facility is in a designated industrial area, and there are other enterprises nearby handling animal products.
"P Waddington make every effort to minimise odours beyond the site boundary.
"Our operations are within the strict requirements of our environmental permit and odour management plan.
"All of this is done in line with the UK Best Available Techniques (BAT).
"BAT ensures that industrial installations use the best available techniques to prevent or minimise emissions and environmental impact.
"Our permit was granted because the installation uses modern technology and operating procedures compliant with the current BAT standards.
"Other installations handling animal by-products in the UK will be using the same techniques to manage odour and emissions.
"The installation is regularly inspected by environmental health officers from Bradford Council.
"We work with them constructively to ensure compliant operations at the installation in accordance with our environmental permit.
"Animal by-product processing facilities like ours play a vital role in making livestock production sustainable and in preventing animal disease outbreaks.
"We take animal material not suitable for food and convert it into safe, reusable resources, such as biofuels.
"There are robust regulations governing this sector to ensure the protection of public health."