Dear William

I would like to thank your committee (and it's predecessor in the previous Assembly led by Christine Chapman) for the work that you have done to help find ways to resolve the odour problem at Bryn Ltd.

Since the petition was first submitted, the Environment Agency have introduced an Odour Management Plan which contains some stricter enforcement powers and the requirement for the introduction of stronger management controls at the site.

Unfortunately, this has still not wholly ended the odour problem and I am aware of the latest complaints on the 27th June which were reported to the EA by residents. I understand that the EA has the power to suspend activity for a period of time where odour is reported and I will be investigating whether this is ocurring at appropriate intervals at the next meeting of Caerphilly County Borough Council's Bryn Compost Liaison Group which takes place in early September.

Since our last correspondence, the EA has introduced vastly improved communication processes and now writes directly to complainants, copying in local councillors and our AM and I think that this is directly attributable to the correspondence from your committee. 

The problem remains ongoing but I recognise the legal limitations imposed on the regulator and I would say that they have made progress as far as is currently possible, though this is a continually evolving situation. It seems from the correspondence from the EA that they are now willing to consider suspension of activity where they are able to acquire appropriate evidence. We will press them to take action as and when it appears necessary and we will scrutinise the extent to which they are using their regulatory power to the full.

I believe that this progress has been made because of the ground level campaigning, led by residents and which we have been involved in as local councillors and the unstinting commitment of our AM Jeff Cuthbert who set up the original liaison group and later arranged a meeting between us, the then Minister Jane Davidson and the senior management of the EA. The correspondence from your committee has added a great deal of momentum to the process and has greatly aided communication between the EA and residents.

I hope that we will see an end to the dreadful odour problem soon and if not, I maintain that the EA should suspend activity at the site, as requested in our original petition.

Sincerely,

Cllr Hefin David
St Cattwg Ward