COMPANY bosses are being told to find a solution to the problem of odour emissions at a factory or cease operating there.

Cllr Richard Mainon, who represents the Bodelwyddan ward on Denbighshire County Council (DCC), wants the authority to intervene and halt production at The Real Petfood Company (TRPC) factory on the former Hotpoint site in the town as nearby residents continue to be plagued by unpleasant smells.

Cllr Mainon’s call follows an independent report commissioned by the council’s planning and public protection services, which found the emissions of particles of dry pet snacks to be above the acceptable threshold to be handled by TRPC’s two proposed 40-metre chimney stacks.

Cllr Mainon responded: “If they are not prompt coming forward with their updated plans, I have let it be known from the top to the bottom of DCC that I want a them to cease production.”

The report by Martin Cranfield Associates Limited, states: “To comply with the guidance, all other emissions from the site should be fitted with abatement plant to meet the emission limits.

“The ducting of all emissions to tall stacks with the view to dispersion alone cannot be regarded as complying with the Welsh Minister’s guidance.”

The Journal reported in March on how residents were faced with the ‘Catch 22’ of having to put up with either the smell or the visual blight created by the chimneys

Cllr Mainon added: “It was a laughable approach. TRPC must think we’re stupid – 40 metres isn’t a solution; it’s a landmark.

“In the three months since we first saw the plans for the chimneys, residents are still getting at least two days a week where they’re being blighted by the odour

“We simply can’t have a summer where residents can’t open their windows, use their gardens or even dry their washing.”

Graham Wheeler, the company’s founder and managing director, responded: “We have been working closely with officers from DCC on various possible solutions to this problem ever since it first arose.

“Because of its highly complex nature, a huge amount of data was required by various specialist consulting experts before we could decide on which technology will work the best. We now believe we have that solution.

“Following some local concerns expressed regarding the height of the chimneys, the company agreed with the council to examine an alternative solution involving the installation of odour abatement equipment, which will filter out the odours and mean the height of the chimneys can be reduced.

“We hope that the immediate community will get behind this new, improved proposal.

“The sooner it is approved, the sooner we can work on the plan to remove any adverse odours.

However, the solution is unlikely to be implemented before the start of summer.

The report indicates that for TRPC to return with a proposal including the expensive“best available techniques” of abatement – filtration at source – and a single 32-metre chimney could take more than a year to submit to planning, pass consultation and then implement.

A spokesman for DCC said: “We received a planning application for the installation of two 40-metre high chimneys.

"We commissioned a report which suggests a single chimney with a maximum height of 32 metres with some internal abatement work to the processing plant would be a better solution.

"We are awaiting a revised planning application showing a single chimney stack.

"Once the revised application is submitted, we will reconsult with the public on the plans.

"Any application would be matter for the planning committee to decide on once we have received further representations.”

The chimneys plan has prompted the creation of a 242-strong Facebook page, the Bodelwyddan Enviromental Group.

This difficulty of TRPC of being able to address the disgruntled residents complaints immediately has raised further questions of the £6 million dry pet food snack factory’s right to exist.

Cllr Mainon added: “The key is that, the residents of Bodelwyddan don’t want any chimneys and “some abatement”.

"They take to social media to let the whole village know frequently. TRPC need to address this issue at source and not compete with our grade two listed buildings.

"The important thing to remember is the factory is only working at one third of its capacity.

"They want to introduce wet food production, which basically means abattoir-style activity.

“At that stage, I’d be selling my house and moving away.

“A new proposal or halting production are just two prongs of a trident.

"The third is we need to have a very real conversation with DCC to consider 'zoning' and ask whether businesses like TRPC should be operating so close to residential areas.

“More issues will pop-up. We can’t let TRPC have a year to get their house in order every time at the expense of residents.”