Watton residents concerned over Cranswick factory smells

Breckland councillor, Tina Kiddell, said the smell coming from Cranswick meat processing factory in Watton has gone beyond what is expected in the countryside.

But bosses at the facility claim they are working to resolve the issue. 

Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk, Ms Kiddell, who is also a town councillor, said: "There are lots of factories in Norfolk and people live near factories and expect a certain amount of smells. 

"This smell is far above and beyond what it should be.  

"This is cloying. It's making people gag and on a bad day it is horrendous." 

Some people in the town have gone as far as seeking medical attention from their GP due to the smell making them feel unwell. 

One local, who did not want to be named, said her mental health had been affected.

She said: "We are being overwhelmed with a stomach-churning stench that keeps coming from the factory. 

"I can only describe it as a burning sewage smell which my home is filled with.  

"The stench forces me to close my bedroom windows, have my fan on, and spray air freshener all around. In the morning, the smell will be trapped in the house." 

She went on to say that despite regularly reporting it to the Environment Agency, the smell of decay and faeces has increased over the last six months.

"There is a blood pit near the factory, where they dispose of the blood," she added. 

"And we don't know if it's that or some other problem, but we shouldn't have to live like this." 

Ms Kiddell added: "This can’t go on much longer." 

The firm said it has taken the complaints seriously and had been advised by the Environment Agency to engage with locals.