RESIDENTS who have had their lives blighted by putrid smells from a composting plant can breathe easily for two months while the building is shut down.

People in Sharpness are thrilled that the owners of the composting plant, New Earth Solutions (NES), have decided the close it for two months to try to get the smells under control.

It is a massive step forward for the residents’ campaign and will be the first time the plant has been closed for over three years.

Pam Constable, who lives on Sharpness marina, said: "We have fought tooth and nail to get this. The stench has been horrendous over the last few months, at last we have got the doors shut."

She added: "We are absolutely thrilled, at least whatever happens we know we are going to get a respite from it this summer."

The closure follows pressure put on the company by the Environment Agency, Stroud District Council, MP Neil Carmichael and representatives from the community.

A spokesman for the EA, which monitors the company’s permit, said: "Following the increase in chimney height we have completed six weeks of odour monitoring. In our opinion, the odour being emitted is still above annoyance levels.

"We have told NES they need to identify other commercially available odour treatment systems and report back to us."

The EA said it welcomed the company’s voluntary closure to make improvements.

Rachael Subuts, spokeswoman for NES, said: "The refurbishment of the environmental controls at the site will follow the recommendations of a specialist environmental consultancy, and is intended to minimise the impact of the facility upon its surroundings and ensure that compliance with its environmental permit is maintained."

During the works waste deliveries will be diverted to other composting sites. Once the site has been cleared of all waste the air-cleaning system, which comprises scrubbers and a bio-filter, will be upgraded and recalibrated and routine maintenance and building work will take place.

NES hopes deliveries of garden and food waste will recommence during July.

Rob Weaver, Stroud District Council's environmental protection manager, said: "We have been working closely with the Environment Agency and the local community and have carried out extensive monitoring of the area with respect to the smell.

"We are delighted that New Earth Solutions is taking significant steps towards the reduction of odour emissions from the plant and have our fingers crossed that the measures will prove to be effective and benefit local residents."

John Stanton, district councillor for Sharpness and chairman of the liaison group, said he was pleased with the step, but added that if it did not reduce the odour, he expected the EA to take action.

He said: "This is the best news we have had for some time. We have got to solve this problem and if not action needs to be taken."

A liaison group meeting between NES, the EA, Neil Carmichael MP and local representatives will take place on Friday, June 10, from 5pm. A public meeting will follow afterwards at around 7pm in Sharpness Dockers Club.