Issue - meetings

A summary of the quarterly complaints was distributed to members of the group covering the period from 21 April 2010, the date of the previous meeting.

The number of complaints received were down on 2009 and 2008. The statistics showed that complaints were often received on the same day. There were also groupings of complaints over three or four consecutive days. It was not uncommon for complaints to be received from a number of different streets. Reference was made too a business premises in Marsh Green Road and Mr Green confirmed that their location was in a particularly sensitive location.

The manner of complainants varied to the reasonable to those who were “livid”. On one occasion an officer visiting an area from which a complaint had been received had been met by a quite large and vociferous crowd. Notifying officers and/or the plant was of value in providing early warnings of any possible problems. Mr Green suggested that on occasions the source of odours resulting in complaints may have been in part attributable to the Exeter City Council green waste re-cycling depot which was adjacent to the factory. Officers confirmed that they would identify in the report complaints which were not attributable to the factory.

The Chair stated that he had only received one complaint since the last meeting. He advised that he had cycled to the complainant’s house in Bagshot Avenue and had not felt that the smell had been particularly onerous.