KENDAL residents have been warned of a potential stink causing a nuisance in parts of the town.

United Utilities has written to those living in communities near the Kendal Wastewater Treatment Works, at Wattsfield Road, acknowledging they may be experiencing an increase in odours emanating from the site.

In the letter, the company says the hot weather experienced in recent weeks has contributed to stronger smells, while construction works onsite also mean storage tanks are having to be kept open.

“The prolonged hot weather and dry period has increased the concentration of waste flows coming into the works for treatment and is also impacting on the normal movement through the processing united,” said United Utilities.

“This will have a higher tendency to increase odours at site. Our team is doing all it can to address the issues and reduce the impact on our neighbours.

“We also have some ongoing construction activities which are taking place as part of our site improvement project which may have contributed to odour issues in recent weeks.”

And concerns about the level of treated sewage being pumped out of the treatment works were also addressed by the spokesperson, who said: “After Storm Desmond destroyed our outfall pipe, which discharges permitted treated wastewater into the River Kent, we moved it to a new location further up the river.

“Due to the dry weather, the river is exceptionally low so our outflow pipe discharge is more obvious than usual.”

lHave you noticed a particularly bad smell recently? Email mike.addison@nqnw.co.uk or call us on 01539 790252.