RECENT national headlines have made us much more aware of the importance of cleaning up the environment in which we live.

Surely this must begin at home? The firm, decisive action taken promptly by the Environment Agency in response to a series of river pollution incidents coming from the Faccenda chicken processing factory in Sutton Benger, reported in the Gazette's August 15 edition, is in stark contrast to the protracted, and so far unsuccessful, efforts of the Environmental Services Department of our own North Wiltshire District Council over a period of several years to protect those who live in this village from the offensive smells and silent hours noise from the factory.

Why does our council continue to refuse to act on behalf of the long suffering residents who have been denied so frequently and over such a long period the pleasure of enjoying their property free from this nuisance?

Over the last two years scores of residents have lodged a barrage of complaints with the factory or with the council.

We were delighted when the council at long last issued a smell Abatement Notice last September, at the same time advising us to be patient until the factory had taken remedial action.

The remedial work was completed last month, yet the smell continues. The council's judgement on what was needed to stop this smell was a gross underestimate of the problem.

The advice it issued to residents also proved to be both complacent and misleading.

Even now, despite repeated complaints from residents, the council will not take further action requiring the factory to cease creating the nuisance which blights people's lives.

When will our council follow the example set by the Environment Agency and take action to ensure that this long standing nuisance ceases?

Is its procrastination a further example of gross mismanagement? Or is our council too insensitive to care?

G M WILSON

High Street, Sutton Benger