THE latest bid to stop bad smells coming from a waste processing site in Barrow has been revealed in a planning document.

Owners of the Shanks mechanical biological treatment plant at the Sowerby Woods Industrial Estate want to increase the height of its bio filter stack by 10 metres to allow odours to disperse away and stop them from "grounding" close to the site.

Members of the public and nearby businesses have complained of horrendous smells and fly infestations coming from the site, especially at the height of summer, for several years.

Plan outline

Shanks was temporarily closed in April 2015 and August 2013 by the Environment Agency as it regulated the waste management at the troubled plant and investigated 'non-compliance'.

Cumbria County Council's development control and regulatory committee is being recommended to approve the taller stack when it meets in Kendal on January 4.

A report states: "Attempts have been taken by the applicant to alleviate the issue of odours by adding chemical scrubber and alterations to the biofilter. While these have worked and contributed to reducing odour emission, the dispersal of odour emissions from the stack has been identified as a source of odour.


Primary waste shredder in the reception area at Shanks. "The proposed increase in height of the stack would take the dispersal of emissions higher into the atmosphere and clean air, rather than turbulent air which is currently the position. The dispersal of emissions into clean air would take any odour issues away from local receptors, thereby dispersing odour away from nearby receptors.

"The cumulative impact on the landscape would be minimal. There has been additional vertical infrastructure introduced in the area, namely wind turbines, which are far more visible than the proposed increased in height of the flue."

Possible solutions

The lightweight steel stack, which is located on the north-western side of the building, between the MBT plant and Bouthwood Road, is presently 18 metres high.

The proposal is to take the uppermost eight-metre section off and insert an extra 10-metre section in-between.

Various public bodies have been consulted about the plans, including Barrow Borough Council's planning department and the Environment Agency, both of which gave no objection.

Two letters of representation have also been received with regards to the proposed development, with them both raising concerns about odour emissions and flies.

Councillors on the committee are recommended to approve the stack alteration, subject to conditions such as no construction activity to take place on site outside the hours 7am to 6pm.

The idea is the latest bid to reduce the smells, with planning permission granted earlier this month for an extension to the site's main reception hall to allow an enclosed area for the disposal of refuse.

Other actions to help combat the problem previously have included the inclusion of an ammonia scrubber prior to discharge through the biofilter, a new chemical storage tank and amendments to piping.

Timeline of problems

June 2013 - Anger at Barrow waste plant’s plague of flies

July 2013 - Angry Barrow office workers despair of flies plague

July 2013 - Protest causes a stink at Barrow waste plant over smell and flies misery

August 2013 - Barrow waste plant bosses pledge fly plague problem won’t return

August 2013 - Barrow waste plant licence suspended

August 2013 - Restrictions dropped at Barrow plant behind plague of flies outbreak

September 2014 - Neighbours complain over return of Barrow waste plant odour

April 2015 - Troubled Barrow waste plant is closed as green watchdog investigates

July 2016 - Complaints after 'unbearable' stink returns to Barrow estate