Odours
 | Odour complaints are handled in a similar way to most other statutory nuisance. Complainants will normally be asked to keep a diary of odour events in order to assist us with our investigation. The Environmental Health team will usually investigate nuisance odours from Take-aways and other food premises, and small commercial or industrial sites including sewage works. Odours from larger industrial premises will usually be investigated by the Environment Agency under the Pollution Control Permit scheme. |
| Odours are very subjective and can be difficult to control. Nuisance is not defined in law, but requires a much higher standard than simply being annoying. As a general rule of thumb, odours will almost certainly have to be ‘offensive’, frequent and be having a detrimental effect in the area in order to qualify as a statutory nuisance. Infrequent odours or those that occur only under certain weather conditions are unlikely to be actionable. |
| Where odours are emanating from food or industrial premises, consideration is given to the means currently used to prevent odour. An odour may not be a statutory nuisance where suitable means are employed to prevent the nuisance, even where the odour is apparent. |  |
 | Problem odours from muck spreading are common in a rural district such as North Dorset. Muck spreading is an accepted agricultural practice considered to be a normal part of rural living. It is therefore unlikely that odours from this source can be a statutory nuisance. The storage and spreading of poultry manure can somtimes be associated with odour complaints of nearby residential dwellings. The Council has worked with other local authorities and the local poultry industry to develop a code of practice for the use of poultry manure. Although the code is not legally enforceable in its own right, it sets out a proactive statement and best practice. |
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Please call Environmental Health at North Dorset District Council (01258) 484381 or e-mail us for more details of this service. |
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