COUNCILLORS have caused a stink over a smell which has been lingering in the atmosphere around Royston for months. They wanted to know the cause of the smell and what steps arebeing taken to ensure it disappears. Representatives from Anglian Water and Tha

COUNCILLORS have caused a stink over a smell which has been lingering in the atmosphere around Royston for months.

They wanted to know the cause of the smell and what steps arebeing taken to ensure it disappears.

Representatives from Anglian Water and Thames Water were questioned at a meeting of North Herts District Council's Royston area committee.

And, in the end, both water companies promised to monitor the situation and report to the committee in six months' time.

The companies were urged to explain the situation after a 2,000-signature petition had been presented to the committee calling for an end to the smell which has lingered near to the A505 bypass in recent months.

Anglian Water representative Paul Tovell - his company is responsible for the sewage works in Royston - said that he did not believe his company was responsible for the recent smell.

This could mean that the smell came from sludge which was stockpiled on farmland around Royston although Thames Water representative Henry Grace said this should be ploughed into the land within 24 hours of delivery.

But such work depended on weather conditions and the sludge could remain untreated for a long period, he admitted.

Cllr Sarah Wren, the district council's portfolio holder for environmental health, said the problem of the smell had "effected the quality of life" of residents.