ODOUR INVESTIGATION WADBOROUGH PARK FARM

1. ODOUR INVESTIGATION WADBOROUGH PARK FARM Public Meeting Wychavon District Council 17th November 2011

2. Complaints Summary • 64 complainants • Approximately 300 reports of odour • 10 officers involved in investigation • Approximately 800 officer hours • Multi-agency working with The Environment Agency, Animal Health and Defra

3. Timeline • June 2011 – complaints received by WRS regarding odour in Stoulton area • July 2011 – Cleansing Services Group (CSG) relocated operation on farm further away from Stoulton • August 2011 – manure store/slurry pit emptied and ploughed in following identification as odour source • September 2011 – gypsum noted as being used as bedding material during visit with EA • October 2011 – visit to farm with agricultural odour specialist • October 2011 – ceased use of gypsum as bedding • November 2011 – CSG operation on farm suspended

4. OVERVIEW • Complaints from residents in Hawbridge, Stoulton, Claverton and Littleworth • All contacts logged and comments recorded • Wadborough Park Farm identified as the source of the problem • Wadborough Park Farm is a large scale beef farm with up to 3000 cattle • Little history of odour complaints in previous years at this location

5. Potential Sources of Odour • Cleansing Services Group – injection of septic tank waste • Manure store/slurry pit • Use of gypsum as bedding material • Use and impact of spring onion leaf as cattle feed

6. Outcomes of investigation • Relocation of CSG operation on farm • Manure store/slurry pit emptied and ploughed in • Increased frequency of scraping out of soiled areas of livestock buildings • Improved level of housekeeping in livestock buildings • CSG ceased operation at Wadborough Park Farm beginning of November

7. Report from agricultural specialist -recommendations (if problem persists) • Increased frequency of cleaning of livestock buildings • Consider covering the manure store/slurry pit or use of an anaerobic digester • Follow the Code of Practice for manure spreading • Consider keeping animal feed in covered tanks/silos

8. Legal Background • Environmental Protection Act 1990 • Smell from agricultural units and agricultural land exempt from odour provisions • Only act if odour caused by animals not being kept properly • Animal Health visits show husbandry standards are acceptable, no significant issues

9. Other considerations • Very dry weather conditions • WRS taking informal action due to consistent cooperation by farmers during the investigation • Regulator’s Compliance Code – phased approach to enforcement

10. Ongoing Activities • Targeted daily monitoring by WRS officers after withdrawal of CSG from Wadborough Park Farm • Sending regular email updates to residents

11. Next Steps • Maintain communication with farmer to give WRS advanced warning of farming activities which may cause odour: emptying of slurry pit, slurry spreading etc. • Continue to liaise with other agencies • Continue to respond to complaints • Proactive monitoring

12. Contact Details Steve Jorden (Head of Regulatory Services) s.jorden@worcsregservices.gov.uk 01527 881466 Lisa Roberts (Community Protection Manager) lisa.roberts@worcesregservices.gov.uk 01527 548267