ANGRY villagers in Sandiway are banding together to try to put an end to a foul stench which is plaguing their village.

The smell is coming from a disused waste tip, which has been filled with chemical by-products since the 1950's. Developers Alfred McAlpine Ltd are excavating the tip to make way for a new housing estate.

This week, a group of villagers say they have had enough, and want as many people as possible to complain publicly about the problem.

Chris Cowan, of Oak Lane, is spearheading the group. He said: "Let us be clear. This isn't a 'smell' or an 'emission'. It's an acrid stench that fills your lungs, your eyes, your mouth.

"We should know exactly what is coming out. The crucial thing is that people complain must about it, otherwise the Health and Safety people will assume we are happy with it."

The group wants Vale Royal Borough Council's environment department to release full details of what the tip contains.

The council's Rupert Adams said: "As far as emissions are concerned, we have regular on-site, perimeter and off-site sampling, monitored by a consultant and by environmental services.

"These results, along with former ground condition surveys, leads to an official council statement that there is no off-site risk to health."

Alex Maclean, of Alfred McAlpine, said the firm had probed the site before excavating it. He added: "Before work began, historical records were checked thoroughly.

"The monitoring and testing of the site began around 20 years ago. Nothing harmful was found."

But that's not enough for Mr Cowan's group.

Mr Cowan added: "We need to cajole the developers into ending this stench for good. That will mean anyone who is affected by it ringing up to complain.

"Only then will enough pressure come to bear to make them show us the documents which they have, and which tell us what we need to know."

f you want to make your feelings know, ring Rupert Adams at the council on 01606 862862.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.