As the representative of several hundred Central Saanich residents, I would like to add our voice to the complaint raised in the June 21 PNR letter to the editor, A smell so bad it can be tasted.
The odour situation in the Martindale and Hunt Valley area and on Tanner Ridge has simply become intolerable. Summer has now arrived and hundreds of residents in proximity to the Stanhope compost operation cannot, or do not want to go outdoors and endure the stink.
Composting odour emissions beyond the operator’s property boundary are the direct responsibility of the CRD and are a violation of Bylaw 2736. CRD policy and procedures call for escalating enforcement action for continuing offences, and possible licence cancellation when over a year. This has been going on for over two years and nothing has improved ... it is getting worse.
Residents may not be aware the CRD has a contract with Stanhope to process food waste. As such they clearly have a vested interest in allowing this operation to continue and not enforcing their own bylaw. Who is looking after the interests of Central Saanich residents?
I respectfully suggest it is time to stop food waste composting in close proximity to residents and relocate these operations to more appropriate sites such as Hartland Road.
Michele Bond, President of the Martindale/Hunt Valley Protection Association
Saanichton