West Tyrone MLAs Daniel McCrossan and Tom Buchanan have hit out at the smell coming from the Lakeland Dairies site in Artigarvan.

During a meeting of the Stormont Agriculture committee last Thursday, members were briefed by Assembly researcher Suzie Cave on how local authorities conduct odour assessments in Britain and Ireland.

“We have a particular issue in Artigarvan in West Tyrone. It’s rumbling on, to great frustration,” said McCrossan.

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“It appears that there’s very little follow-up with enforcement whenever the smell continues. I wouldn’t like to be living there to be quite honest, with the way the situation is at the moment,” added Buchanan.

Improved

Despite that criticism, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said “the majority” of required improvement works at Artigarvan have been completed.

“This work has included improvements to their effluent treatment plant, drainage on the site and containment of potential odour sources,” he said in response to a written question.

Minister Muir highlighted an upgrade to processing equipment, known as a clarifier, which was completed in early September.

“The upgrade to the clarifier appears to have resulted in a significant improvement in odour in the Artigarvan area,” he said.