A foul stench from March sewage works has reared its ugly head again prompting a promise for an “odour suppressing system” in the “very near future.”

Cambs Times: March Sewage works where complaints about the smell have been raised by David DetfordMarch Sewage works where complaints about the smell have been raised by David Detford (Image: Archant)

Strong stinking sewage smells are wafting from the Creek Fen site which has resulted in a barrage of complaints from local residents in addition to a site visit by Fenland’s environmental team.

The problem last reared it head last summer when local farmer David Deptford said sewage was being brought into March because they: “think the Fens is gullible and we can have it.”

Fenland District senior environmental health protection officer Ian Yates said: “Anglian Water are transporting sewage cake onto the site to mix with lime to produce sewage cake which is then sold to farmers as fertilizer.”

The renewed smell problem prompted him to call a meeting with the Environment Agency who are now looking into permit conditions.

Cambs Times: March Sewage works where complaints about the smell have been raised by David DetfordMarch Sewage works where complaints about the smell have been raised by David Detford (Image: Archant)

He said: “I am hopeful that an odour suppressing system will be installed in the very near future.

“One of the conditions that Anglian Water has on the permit to carry out the activities is not to cause a nuisance.

“Therefore as part of the investigation it would be of great assistance if you could forward the complainants details to me so that I can contact them and gather evidence from them regarding the nuisance that residents are experiencing.”

Mr Deptford, who farms the land next to the sewage site, said: “Do we have to put up with the smell from March sewage works? It is that bad it makes me want to be sick.

“Today it was so bad, I had a group of students from Cambridge University and they were disgusted with the smell. The smell is not the works itself it is the waste that is brought in from out of the area.”

In a Facebook discussion one person wrote: “I live on Elm Road the smell from those lorries is gut wrenching and it has to be stopped. In this day and age this should not be happening in a built up area and the possible health risks if any is spilt en-route is unthinkable.”

Councillor Jan French said it was an issue that had been going on for years and needed to be resolved.

Jeanette Shermer said it was like a human manure factory and called for People Power to sort it out.

One resident said the smell started at 8am on Sunday morning and the entire house was flooded with the smell of sewage while trying to eat breakfast.