Air pollution
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.