We carry out local air quality monitoring and monitor
smoke, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides at a number of fixed
sites in the Borough. A recent review of air quality showed that
overall the air quality in Allerdale is good when compared with
national air quality standards.
Regulation of air pollution
The Council has powers to investigate and deal
with emissions into the atmosphere which arise from some industrial
processes.
Odour pollution
Odours can arise from industrial, commercial or
agricultural processes.
We investigate complaints of alleged odour
nuisance and take action where appropriate. An odour can, in
certain circumstances, be a statutory nuisance. When assessing
statutory nuisance, the factors that need to be considered include
severity of the odour, how often it occurs, how long it lasts and
how it affects you.
If you are affected by an odour in the first
instance you should tactfully approach the person or business
causing the odour and explain the situation. If this does not bring
about an improvement you may contact environmental health for
advice or request that we investigate the complaint. You will need
to provide the Council with your name and address, details of the
odour, when and how long the odour occurs and how it affects you.
We may ask you to make a written record of when the problem occurs
using the odour recording form which can be downloaded at the
bottom of this page. You can return this to the Council by posting
it to the Environmental Protection Team, Allerdale Borough Council,
Allerdale House, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 3YJ.
After gathering the information, the Council
will decide on the best way to continue the investigation. If the
investigation verified that an odour nuisance exists the Council
will write formally to the person or business causing the nuisance
or may serve an Abatement Notice requiring the odour nuisance to be
stopped.
Sewage sludge
This is a by-product of the treatment of sewage at wastewater
treatment works. Water is removed from the sludge and lime is added
to produce sewage sludge cake. The Government policy is that the
best environmental option is to dispose of sewage sludge on
agricultural land. The addition of lime reduces potential for
odour, kills bacteria to a safe level and improves its suitability
for spreading on agricultural land.
Any environmental problems caused by the storage of sewage
sludge are regulated by the Environment Agency.
Odours caused during the spreading of sewage sludge can be
investigated by environmental health at the district council.
For further information please go to the related links section
below.