Waste site behind town's 'whiff' shuts for repairs
BBCA controversial waste plant behind a "whiff" smell experienced in a town has closed due to mechanical failure.
Hills Waste Solutions has discovered a problem in one of the two internal cranes at the Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility in Westbury, Wiltshire.
The facility has been linked by the Environment Agency as the source for the infamous "Westbury Whiff", which has been described as "upsetting" by local residents who say the smell seeps into their homes.
Hills Waste Solutions says it will take two weeks to fix the mechanical failure. In the meantime, waste will be diverted to the Lower Compton landfill site, near Calne, where it will be buried.
The facility, at Northacre in Westbury, usually takes Wiltshire's residual black bin household waste, then dries and biologically treats it in a controlled building.
It also recovers metals for recycling and turns most of the remaining material into a solid recovered fuel for use in energy-from-waste plants, rather than sending it straight to landfill.
Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for waste, councillor Paul Sample, said the closure was "really unfortunate."
He said: "We appreciate that residents, particularly those in Calne and Westbury, may have questions about the temporary shutdown of the MBT facility and the work taking place at Lower Compton."
"This is an unforeseen and really unfortunate equipment failure, even more frustrating given the other ongoing issues.
"The decision by Hills as the site operator to temporarily close the facility has been taken to allow essential repairs to be completed safely and as quickly as possible."
A spokesperson from Hills confirmed steps would be taken to try reduce odours when doors at the MTB facility in Westbury are opened during repair work.
Over in Calne, Lower Compton is also the subject of an ongoing Environment Agency investigation because of odour pollution known locally as the "Calne Pong".
One resident previously told the BBC the smell made her feel like she was living next to a gas leak.
"We fully appreciate that this situation is far from ideal for residents," a spokesperson from the Environment Agency told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
"We are working closely and urgently with Hills and Wiltshire Council to identify and implement measures that will minimise the impact of the additional waste being processed at Compton Bassett and to reduce odour wherever possible."
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