Dismay as firm is given licence

A controversial Black Country dog food firm which has sparked complaints about foul fish smells has been granted a licence – almost two years after it opened.

People living near Fish4dogs say their quality of life is being blighted by the stench wafting from the factory in Saltbrooks Trading Estate, Cradley.

An eight-page draft permit has now been drawn by council officers which grants the firm permission to continue cooking fish for canine snacks, but with conditions to control odours.

Residents whose homes neighbour the plant say the putrid smell continues to drift into their homes, often stopping them from sitting outside in their gardens during sunny weather.

Paul Borgsteede’s house in Mogul Lane backs on to the factory. “The whole area is beginning to smell of fish,” he said.

“Council officers might have some very clever scientific way of working out what is deemed offensive, but if something is preventing you from going out in your garden then surely that is irrelevant? I suppose the officers don’t have this problem because they don’t live in the area, but surely being able to sit out in your garden when you want to is a human right?

“Apparently Fish4dogs is only allowed to let five per cent of the fish smell come out through their chimney.

“If what I smelt this morning was five per cent, I’d hate to think what 15 per cent was like.”

Ward councillor Gaye Partridge said she too still had concerns about the factory.

She believes a big part of the problem is that inspections are pre-arranged and not random. “Residents are very worried and I have never seen emails as bad as some of those I have received over this,” she said.

Dudley Council spokeswoman Katherine Finney said: “Our intention is to issue a permit for the premises with conditions to control odour.

“This is in order for us to exercise control over the operation on the site and try and address residents concerns in relation to odour.”

Fish4dogs says it is doing everything possible to relieve problems.