A NEW map has emerged showing the true concentrations of odours emitted from Cheshire East Council’s new Cledford Lane waste site.

Cheshire East Council has released a previously unpublished image in an attempt to reassure Middlewich residents and businesses that the site’s odour impact will be negligible.

Various groups had voiced concern after an initial map appeared to show an ‘odour cloud’ hovering over a large number of homes and businesses.

Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member for regeneration, said: "In light of recent reports, we feel it is important to reassure the public that there will be very little negative impact to the residents and businesses of Middlewich from odour.

"We commissioned a specialist contractor to review what the impact of the construction of the hub would be and the findings show that any potential negative environmental impact will be minimal.

"The contractor carried out detailed tests. I am assured that the odour levels that may reach heavily-populated buildings will be negligible."

The latest map is part of an unpublished series of eight studies that show odour concentrations in various weather conditions, both with and without a filtration system.

Only concentrations of 0.5 European odour units per cubic metre will reach built up residential areas after filtration – a value below the 'detection threshold'.

The council believes people may have been misled by the images available to them, but conceded that the release of various maps could have been better coordinated.

"Part of the confusion was because the reports are very technical," said Ralph Kemp, corporate commissioning manager of the council’s waste and environmental services.

"Freedom of Information means it is difficult to describe. It’s a balance of getting the right message out there.

"There is nothing to hide and we haven’t tried to change anything, but we do take environmental concerns very seriously.

"The council has gone belt and braces to ensure that there isn’t an odour problem."

Furthermore, once open, the site will be very closely regulated by the Environment Agency.