A CONTROVERSIAL solution to 19 month odour row in Bodelwyddan has been given the go ahead.

Denbighshire County Council's planning committee has granted approval to 35 metre chimney at £6 million The Real Petfood Company Factory, on Kinmel Park.

Committee members voted 16 votes to zero - with one abstention - to grant planning permission for the chimney, after hearing from Bodelwyddan cllr Richard Mainon of a cancer patient in the village who has had to leave her home because of the smell and dust residue.

In addition, councillors also approved a separate application for a two storey, 660 square metre office extension which had been deferred in February due to odour complaints.

Speaking against the chimney application cllr Mainon said; “It should not come as a surprise that when they come within 60 metres of residential properties that they create a bit of a nuisance.

“By their own admission they produce an odour that is ten to eleven times stronger than that which can be accepted.

“There is a young lady diagnosed with cancer in the village in her mid-30s and rather than enjoying time with her two young children during what must be the worst time of her life she has had to make arrangements to spend time away from home as through chemotherapy she hasn’t been able to stand the smell."

While residents were initially unwilling to trade odour issues for a potential visual nuisance, the application has been approved subject to various conditions regarding issues such as the final specification and colour of the chimney and full details of the landscaping works to be undertaken.

However, while cllr Mainon indicated that he was willing to accept the chimney solution, the decision to also grant approval for TRPC's second proposal could potentially fall afoul of residents.

Speaking to The Journal after the meeting, cllr Mainon added: ""When you're in a stalemate for more than 19 months, you don't really have any option other than to accept some kind of solution - so long as it's reasonable.

"After we as a town extended an olive branch to TRPC, and I set up the whole village to to accept the chimney, it does smack in the face of decency that they have pushed so hard to put their swanky offices back on the agenda, particularly as it was deferred in February because of a smell that we still have live with in November.

"I would expect a commitment that TRPC they would have the chimney unwell underway before they break ground on the second proposal."

Mr Lawson responded: “We have always said the clear focus is on sorting out the odour problem and I confirm that construction of the chimney and the installation of the odour abatement equipment is the priority.

"Civil engineers are being instructed with the intention of commencing groundworks for the chimney early in the New Year.”