Yealmpton Environment Group

The next meeting will be held on the 5th of May at 7:45pm at Yealmpton Community Room. New members are welcome to attend.

• 5 May, 16 June, 21 July

Details of how to report a problem to South West Water are given at:

https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

This describes how one can report smell as a possible indication of pollution over the SWW Operational queries helpline 0344 346 2020* (24 hours), or report that smell online at:

https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/advice-and-services/your-wastewater/reporting-a-suspected-pollution/#

In addition

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nuisance-smells-how-councils-deal-with-complaints

describes how Councils must look into complaints about smells from industrial, trade and business premises (sewage handling facilities are mentioned specifically) that could be a ‘statutory nuisance’ (covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990).

For the smell to count as a statutory nuisance it must do one of the following:

• unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises
• injure health or be likely to injure health

If they agree that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, councils must serve an abatement notice. This requires whoever’s responsible to stop or restrict the smell. The notice will usually be served on the person responsible but can also be served on the owner or occupier of the premises.

Additional information

• When and how to call the Environment Agency incident hotline
• How to report waste crime anonymously to Crimestoppers
• What type of environmental  incident you should report to local councils and utility companies, including how to make those reports

  https://www.gov.uk/report-an-environmental-incident

Yealmpton Environment Group Blue Heart Verge Campaign

Life on The Verge talk recorded at Yealmpton Community Centre on 24th March 2022