Smells
Summary
The council receives many requests for help with odour problems every year. Smells complained about vary from industry and farming to catering and domestic sources.
Odour complaints are routinely investigated by the council's Environmental Health service with two purposes - firstly to investigate whether any regulatory intervention is required and secondly to offer advice on good practice for minimising or preventing odour problems.
If you do wish to complain to the council about a smell you may be asked to assist an investigation by keeping a record of what you smell, for how long and when the odour affects you. We will try to find the cause and examine what, if anything, can be done about it.
If the odour is causing a statutory nuisance then an abatement notice may be served requiring the person or company responsible to take action to control it.
In some circumstances we may be unable to act on behalf of a person who has made a complaint of nuisance. This may be due to the type of problem, the circumstances of the case or lack of evidence. Even if we cannot take action, independent action that can be taken privately by individuals. This includes complaining directly to the Magistrates' Court under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as amended. Though rarely used, this procedure is simple and need not be expensive.
Our leaflet Private Action For Nuisance explains your options and gives practical advice - please see the right hand downloads menu.
Further Information
For full details of all options and how to make a complaint, please see our main Odour Complaints page.