SOME £10,000 is to be spent on investigating the putrid smell coming from Sandiway tip - following a flood of complaints from residents.

Vale Royal Borough Council has been swamped with calls from worried families who say the terrible smell has caused them to vomit.

At a meeting of the borough's executive committee, councillors agreed to take action by hiring a consultant to look at possible health dangers associated with the activities at the former waste dump on Chester Road.

It has been filled with chemical by-products since the 1950s and is now being excavated to make way for a new housing estate.

The work involves the total removal of the contents of the former unlicensed tip (160,000 cubic metres), the back-filling of the hole with sand and the building of properties.

It is expected that this could take around 18 months to complete.

But since the work started the council's environmental department has received more than 200 complaints about a foul stink from the site.

"This site is causing Rupert Adams' environmental team more grief and work than anything else they've ever been involved in. They are totally overwhelmed," said Clr Bob Floyd. "We have had hundreds of complaints."

Brian Jamieson described the extent of the problem.

"Asbestos has been found in considerable amounts and arsenic has also been detected. The gas board are worried daily because they are being told there are gas leaks by concerned residents.

"And the smell is so bad I can't explain it. It's dreadful, absolutely terrible."

He added: "Residents are also concerned about the physical affects and the long term health problems. They are often sick because of the very strong smell of hydrocarbons, petroleums and thinners.

"This situation could go on for another 13 months so we need to give the residents some assurance that we are doing something."

Councillors agreed to make £10,000 available for a consultant to perform a risk assessment of the site.

Villagers are being urged to go to their doctors if they are feeling ill and then ask their doctor to contact South Cheshire Health Authority as a matter of urgency.

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